Curious about the experience of working in fast food as it may differ between men and women, we then asked Cindy some questions related to discrimination within the workplace and the treatment of men and women. It was interesting to hear Cindy explain to us the workplace as she saw it. She admitted that (at least in her situation) she saw the men (primarily the teenage boys who worked there) as having the short end of the stick. According to Cindy, they get the "dirty" jobs; taking out the trash, doing the dishes, doing the heavy cleaning, etc. The women who work there seldom are expected to do such takes, as long as one of the male employees was on the clock.

"Day Care. A lot of women don't work because of day care"	Next, we asked the general question, "How do you think the fast food industry could improve to meet the needs of women?" Cindy immediately chimed in with the pressing issue of day care.
Fast food restaurants would do a great service to their employees if they aided them in some way with day care. As is common with many minimum wage, part time jobs such as these, many women who work them are doing so to help (or to entirely on their own) support their families. Because of this, day care is a large concern for many women, especially those with young children who are not yet in school. Day care in the work place is a growing option in the United States today and the Fast Food industry would be making a priceless contribution to their employee's well being if they too considered it.
"Insurance could be better, because women have a lot more needs for them to [have to] be at the doctors."	In addition to childcare, Cindy also named health insurance as an area where the fast food industry would better address the needs of its female employees.

Links to Public Opinion Polls: Day Care Issues

Would you use workplace day care? | Are employers doing enough? | More Child Care Issues

Cindy's Main Page | Typical Day | Working in Fast Food | Women's Issues