I am writing in response to Rachel Smolkin's June 3 article "Equality at Work Remains Elusive" and its accompanying stories "Barriers Confront Working Women" and "A Little Help Makes Breaking Barriers Easier."

Unfortunately, articles like these, which quote statistics and research regarding issues of equality and discrimination, do not take into account case-by-case scenarios. They also promote collectivism rather than libertarian individualism.

For a case-by-case scenario, I have female friends and family members who have higher degrees than their husbands, but choose lower positions at work that are more flexible than say, CEO of a company. This is due to their choice to put their family (children) first. This is their choice.

With degrading policies like affirmative action, quotas, nondiscrimination guidelines and the like making it easier than ever for women and other minority groups to "move up," it is even more insulting to hear from writers that "equality at work is elusive" and that women have more barriers to overcome.

There are always barriers to moving up, no matter who you are. To be successful in a career, you must make sacrifices, whether this means putting off having children to focus on that career, working extra hours or getting a higher level of education.

No matter what shade of skin, gender, religious background, disability or sexual orientation, you will encounter barriers. Take a look at successful people and how they got to where they are. They are successful because they were willing to work overtime, start at a low pay, study or make work their first priority.

Look at yourself as an individual, not as a collective group, and although you will face barriers, you will be able to accomplish anything if you work hard enough.

SHANNON NIXON
Crafton