Gender-Pay-Gap: A Reality in 21st Century
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There is a common belief that in the West, women have equal rights to men. However, there is a growing body of research that suggests otherwise.
For instance, studies have shown a significant pay gap between men and women in the workforce. In addition, women are more likely to be the victims of domestic violence and are often under-represented in positions of power.
While there are laws in place protecting women’s rights, they are not always effective. As such, it is not difficult to say if equal women’s rights in the West are a myth.
There have been some advancements in recent years. For example, women now have the right to vote, and they are no longer treated as the property of their husbands.
There are also laws to protect women from discrimination and sexual harassment. However, the gender pay gap still exists, and women are often not given the same opportunities as men in the workforce.
By definition, the Gender Pay Gap is the disparity in wages between men and women who are employed in comparable roles. Therefore, the Gender Pay Gap is often used to measure gender inequality.
However, it can be affected by several factors, such as gender-based discrimination, the prevalence of women in specific sectors of the workforce, and differences in experience and qualifications.
GENDER-PAY-GAP IN EU
Ever since the European Union was formed in 1993, women’s rights have become increasingly important. Gender equality is a core principle of the European Union.
Enshrined in the EU’s founding Treaties and reinforced in subsequent legislation, equality is central to the EU’s mission to build a fairer society.
But a study by the European Commission found that, on average, women in the EU are paid 16% less than men for doing the same job.
This gender pay gap exists in every member state, which is highest in Estonia and Lithuania, at over 25%.
Another area where women continue to be discriminated against is in terms of representation in politics.
Although the proportion of female Members of European Parliament (MEPs) has increased steadily over the past few years, women only make up 36% of the European Parliament.
This lack of gender balance means that women’s voices are not adequately represented on significant issues.
There is no question that women’s rights have come a long way in the European Union over the past few decades. However, there is also a significant gender divide regarding representation in politics and business.
Only 6% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. More still needs to be done to achieve full gender equality in the EU, as envisaged.
Till then, equality for women in the EU will continue to be the myth.
GENDER-PAY-GAP IN UK
The United Kingdom is often lauded as a country with robust gender equality protections. However, recent data suggest that there is still a long way to go before women in the UK are genuinely on an equal footing with men.
For example, the pay gap between genders currently stands at 18.4%, meaning that women earn, on average, 82 pence for every £1 (£1 = 100 pence) that men earn.
This disparity is even more evident for women of colour and disabled women, who earn just 60 pence and 52 pence, respectively for every £1 earned by their male counterparts. Moreover, women are still significantly underrepresented in many industries, particularly leadership positions.
In 2019, only one in four boardroom seats in the UK was held by a woman. In addition to earning less, women tend to be concentrated in specific sectors of the workforce, such as health care and education.
For example, black women make 23.1% less than white men, and Asian women earn 18.7% less than white men
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the gender pay gap has decreased from 19.2% in 2003 to 9.4% in 2018.
Additionally, women now make up 47% of the UK workforce and are grounded in traditionally male-dominated industries such as science and technology.
GENDER-PAY-GAP IN GERMANY
Gender inequality is still a significant issue in Germany. In 2019, the Gender Pay Gap in Germany was estimated to be at 5.5%.
It is lower than the European Union’s average Gender Pay Gap of 16.2 % and lower than the Gender Pay Gap in other large European economies such as France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
This pay gap cannot be explained by differences in experience or education, indicating that there is still significant discrimination against women in the workforce.
These inequalities extend beyond pay; women are also less likely to be promoted to leadership positions and are more likely to work in lower-paid sectors such as healthcare and education.
To address this issue, the German government has introduced many measures, including quotas for women on company boards and equal pay audits for businesses with more than 250 employees.
GENDER-PAY-GAP IN SWITZERLAND
The Swiss Federal Statistical Office found that women’s rights in Switzerland are an illusion.
Although Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in the world, the research found that women are still discriminated against in many areas of life.
For instance, women earn an average of 11% less than men for doing the same job and are also far more likely to be employed in low-paid and low-status jobs. In addition, women are less likely to own property or have a bank account in their name.
Women in Switzerland have only been granted the right to vote and stand for election since 1971.
While it is true that Swiss law does give women equal rights to men in many respects, there is still a long and uphill road to go before equality is indeed a reality in Switzerland.
GENDER-PAY-GAP IN THE USA
Despite considerable progress over the past few decades, women in the United States still face significant disparities in many areas, including education, employment, and earnings.
In 2015, women earned 82% of what men earned, according to a study by the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
The pay gap varied by race and ethnicity, with Hispanic and Latina women earning only 54 % of what white, non-Hispanic men earned.
To help close this gap, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law in 2009. This legislation made it easier for women to challenge pay discrimination by extending the period in which they could file a claim.
GENDER-PAY-GAP IN CANADA
In 2019, the World Economic Forum ranked Canada as the world’s sixth gender-equal country. And yet, women in Canada still face significant barriers when it comes to achieving equality.
A study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that the gender pay gap in Canada is widening, not narrowing as many had hoped.
The study found that, on average, women earn just 87 cents for every dollar men earn – a pay gap of 13%. When all factors are considered, including occupation, education and experience, the pay gap increases to 20%.
There is also a significant absence of diversity among Canada’s political leadership.
While half of the Canadian population comprises women, only 26 % of the Members of Parliament are women. Those number drops even lower in the Senate and among provincial Premiers.
COUNTER ARGUMENT
Throughout history, women have been considered the caregivers of society. They are responsible for taking care and raising children while men go out into careers that can provide them with money or status in their communities.”
According to Emma Griffin, professor of modern British history at the University of East Anglia, gender distinctions came to be seen as natural.
In a captivating article, “how work was gendered”, she wrote, “According to the Victorians, women were ‘naturally’ inclined towards motherhood and home, while men were ‘naturally’ destined to govern, conquer and work.
And low female wages were not simply an expression of this worldview; they also helped to create it,”
The very reason there is a gender pay gap, Adam Smith Institute’s Ben Southwood explains that “Women leave the labour market during crucial years, setting them substantially back in labour market terms.
As a result, they decide to take time out to have and raise children, moving to more flexible work or less demanding jobs.”
The explanations by Emma Griffin and Ben Southwood need to be considered together and it gets confirmed by the British Office of National Statistics (ONS) study.
The ONS found that for full-time employees between 18 and 39 years, the gender pay gap was close to zero. Over the age of 40 it began to widen.
FINALLY,
There is no answer as to why women sportspersons, as in tennis, athletics, football, cricket etc., are paid less than their male counterparts.
Particularly in the case of WTA women’s tennis, which is as popular as men’s tennis, the women are paid up to 34% less.
The West is considered the beacon of women’s rights and gender equality. Third world or the developing countries are supposed to look up to them to make progress.
But reality has revealed a different picture. The West, like the developing countries, also need to mend their houses.
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