The so-called “gender pay gap”, or the average difference between men and women’s earnings has been one of the most discussed issues this year - but is it real? And if so, how does it affect women?
Many experts have argued that this disparity is, in reality, an over-exaggerated half-truth - but how much truth is there to that claim?
Statistically, it is a fact that women do earn, on average, less than men for doing the same job.
One of the main causes is how women’s competencies and skills are valued in certain sectors - or undervalued. However, it is interesting to note that, whilst that is factually true, it’s got more to do with a dangerously high segregation in the labour market, which only further reinforces the pay gap.
And what is the cause of such occupational segregation? For some, it is personal choices made by women. Others believe it is linked to maternity, traditions, and stereotypes.
So now we’re left with seemingly contradicting opinions - or maybe not.
It is true that women do make those choices voluntarily -there is not, most of the time, someone holding a gun to their head- but is it really so far-fetched to think that those same women are choosing their careers, or applying for a certain job, because society has inculcated into them the notion that, sooner or later, they will have to drop out of the race because of family responsibilities (among others)? I think not.
Look at it this way: if somebody told you that, eventually, you’d have to quit your job -whether you like it or not- to take care of your family, would you invest your time and money in an expensive, long career? Exactly.
And this is, I believe, a subconscious choice many women make. Traditions and stereotypes (the infamous hegemonic patriarchy), especially those regarding maternity and family responsibilities, have long favoured men (which explains why women with children or elderly relatives usually end up working part-time jobs or staying at home) .
Unfortunately, it is a fact that there currently are many cultural and financial factors which impede men from taking care of, say, their children, without penalising and figuratively crippling them - and if men can’t, who’s going to do it? Women. Because either way, if they don’t, they’re still going to make less compared to fathers.
But wait, so what if you don’t want to have children? Will the gender pay gap still affect you?
Most likely, it will - but that is not always the case. Availability is very desirable when it comes to the labour market and women without caregiving responsibilities can work longest and less flexible hours, just like their male counterparts - although ultimately whether it affects a woman or not also depends on that woman’s age, race, and occupation.
So, in reality, the gender pay gap is so much more than just a number. It is an issue far more complex than just saying, “women earn x (less) for every y (more) a man makes, JUST BECAUSE!”
In fact, reducing the issue to just that, another statistic in a sea of numbers, graphs and data, is a very dangerous thing - because not only does it not capture its complexity, it also utterly fails to explain why this is still happening and sometimes it’s enormously misleading, regardless of the accuracy of the statistic.
In order to understand the complexity of it, we shall go deeper than just a few numbers. And, in turn, it might help us understand what we can do in order to mitigate its effects, reduce the gender pay gap, and ultimately eliminate it.
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/gender-pay-gap/index_en.htm
http://www.vox.com/2016/8/1/12108126/gender-wage-gap-explained-real
http://www.forbes.com/sites/karinagness/2016/04/12/dont-buy-into-the-gender-pay-gap-myth/#eb73e84766a6
https://www.wgea.gov.au/addressing-pay-equity/what-gender-pay-gap
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/11/22/the-entire-gender-pay-gap-explained-in-just-one-number-5-7/#348211281db6
http://fortune.com/2016/04/12/myth-gender-wage-gap/
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