Last week I accidentally watched Friday's episode of Dr. Phil. No, really, I don't make a habit of it, but I was at the gym and, well, someone got there first and was avidly watching Dr. Phil with the sound turned way, way up. So I was stuck.
Interestingly enough, the show was actually, er, interesting. Dr. Phil was helping women learn to be better negotiators. Because, you see, statistics show that, on average, women pay 46.5% more for goods and services than men do. Half again as much! Yikes!
One of Dr. Phil's more interesting bits of advice was this:
Step number one is making the decision that you have the right to negotiate and that you are worth standing up for yourself, getting the best price, and not being taken advantage of. Claim that right, and know that you're not doing something wrong if you do.
But my favorite soundbite from the show was this one, directed to a woman who was having trouble asking for a raise:
You have to make the decision that you're worth that and you have to go in there with the attitude that "I'm not asking you to give me something. I'm in here claiming what I have a right to have."
Words of wisdom from America's favorite pop psychologist. Which, to be honest, I quickly forgot. But I recalled them again just now as I was reading Meryl's most recent response to Dean Esmay's various comments on women's rights and gratitude. Dr. Phil's statistics, if they're accurate, suggest that far too many women still succumb to the idea that demanding what we're fully entitled to is "asking a favor" and that we should somehow be grateful to those who fork it over or even simply agree to get out of our way.
Somehow, I don't think Meryl is one of 'em.
