University of Iowa President's Spouse is Paid, But ISU President's Wife Is Not; Fair?

The Iowa Board of Regents decided not to pay the wife of the president Steven Leath for fundraising duties, despite several years earlier approving a contract to pay the husband of the University of Iowa president for fundraising.

A report by Clark Kauffman of the Des Moines Register shows the Iowa Regents stipulated last year that although Janet Leath, the wife of new ISU President Steven Leath, would have "many official duties on behalf of the university" she would not be paid.

An article in the Press Citizen reports that a letter confirming Leath’s appointment, stated that his wife Janet Leath would be given the title of president’s associate for use on official stationery and business cards, but the school stated that “there will be no formal salary compensation for her position.”

University of Northern Iowa officials say the wife of President Benjamin Allen, Pat, has no title with the university and receives no compensation from the university or its fundraising foundation.

However  , husband of President Sally Mason, earns $54,000 a year for his help with fundraising plus an additional $53,000 a year as a lecturer in the biology department, as part of the deal negotiated when Sally Mason was hired in 2007.

This has generated an interesting discussion on one Patch editor's Facebook page.

The sentiment was that wives of university presidents have long been expected to support the careers of their more prominent husbands, attending events and playing the supportive spouse. But, they didn't get paid for it. Now that women are assuming more leadership roles, why is it that a man is getting paid for similar duties.

It's an interesting question about gender roles, and whether our culture values the time of women and men equally.

What do you think?