Gender Pay Gap, and its Effect
- PowHERup Staff
- Aug 7, 2020
- 3 min read
What is the gender pay gap?
The gender pay gap is the difference between the earnings of men and women. The gender pay gap has been calculated in numerous ways but has always shown that men earn more than women for various jobs while doing the same amount of work. We can see a significant gender gap between men and women of color, according to U.S. Census Bureau Data from 2018.
Why is there a gender pay gap in the first place?
Differences in jobs acquired: This may seem like a given at first. If women choose careers that pay less, then, of course, they will have a lower income. But why would women choose jobs that pay less in the first place? This is often due to gender norms and expectations that funnel women and men into their careers. Due to social norms, men are naturally paid more than women. Where did these “social norms” come from? Back when women empowerment was unheard of, women would take what we now call “pink jobs,” which were historically women-dominant careers. These jobs included, and still include, health aides and childcare workers who get paid significantly less than male-dominant jobs like construction. As a result, history passed along, and we now see similar trends.
Differences in years of experience/hours worked:
Different years of education/experience for men and women also play a factor in the jobs that they acquire, leading to gender pay gaps. Women are often driven out of the workforce to accommodate caregiving. Paid leave motivates women to return to work, but only about 19% of civilian workers have access to this amenity, according to the Center of American Progress. The same concept applies to the number of hours worked by women. To find time for caregiving, women naturally work fewer hours than men leading to less pay, or a gender pay gap.
Discrimination:
Although gender-based pay has been illegal since 1963, there is still frequent discrimination, especially for women of color. Keep in mind, discrimination based on sex, ethnicity, or race also plays a huge factor. Societal sexism can influence many jobs that women work in, which leads them to perform un-paid duties such as caregiver, housework, and other responsibilities that men usually do not carry on.
How can we reduce this wage gap?
According to the Center of American Progress, women will reach men’s pay gap by 2059 according to the current pace. During the past decade, the wage gap has closed by only four cents. What are some actions we can take to help close this wage gap?
Raise minimum wage/tipped wage:
The U.S. minimum wage is $7.25. If you think about it, you aren’t earning much at all. ln fact, it’s tough to make a living from this. By raising the minimum wage, not only do we motivate women to earn money, but we also provide a more stable income for families that cannot afford multiple jobs at minimum wage. According to the Center of American Progress, about two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women. The statistic means that two-thirds of minimum workers earn about $15,000 per year. That’s below the poverty line!
Pass paid sick/maternity/paternity/medical leave for workers:
Imagine you are a single mother working two jobs while attempting to feed her children. You get incredibly sick one day and are unable to work for four months. None of the jobs provide medical leave, and you have no paycheck for four months. This is sadly the case for many women in the U.S. today. Passing a paid sick or medical leave relieves the family of fear and also encourages women to work more. This will then slowly start to close the wage gap.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the gender pay gap is going to take a lot more time to close. Although we may not be able to close the wage gap in a year or so, we can take small steps and advocate for change to amplify women’s voices. What is your opinion regarding the gender pay gap? Do you think the wage gap will ever close? Do you agree with the discrimination faced by women? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Sources:
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/reports/2020/03/24/482141/quick-facts-gender-wage-gap/
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