Say that both of your parents are lawyers. If you were to compare their incomes, your father’s would be more. Not because he necessarily worked more hours or because he worked at a higher performance, but because he is a male.
Did you know that even today, women are still being paid unequally compared to their male counterpart? Today, women are only paid approximately 78 cents to every dollar their male counterpart earns. The wage gap has decreased in size roughly 19 cents since the Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, but more recently the wage gap has remained stagnant.
The Equal Pay Act (signed by President Kennedy in 1963) made it illegal for employers to unequally pay men and women who perform the same tasks. This started to close the gap, but the issue has still not been completely addressed. According to the National Women’s Law Center, the wage gap is “shortchanging women and their families 10,000 dollars per year.” Some things that cause the wage gap are stereotypes in the workplace. The women aren’t “breadwinners”, not emotionally or physically capable of performing the task or not as dedicated to the workplace.
The stereotype that women aren’t breadwinners can lead to harmful consequences for both genders. Men were “breadwinners” while women just worked for extra money. But times have changed, and women are now big contributors to their families’ income. So how aren’t women “breadwinners”? This leads to the wage gap because now because women aren’t seen as supporters of families and therefore don’t “need” equal pay. What about single moms? Divorced moms? Single women? How can women support themselves or their families while being paid less, when they are working just as hard as their male counterparts are?
The stereotype of women acting like ladies also affects women. Women who wore make up were found to be more likeable, competent and trustworthy. So physical appearance is more likeable than substance? Men who expressed anger at work gain stature while women who do so are seen as out of control. It’s hypocritical! A man can show emotion but not women? It’s sexist! These two things affect how women are paid.
Another stereotype is that women are primary caregivers first, and an employee second. Employers feel that women who are mothers don’t put working first; therefore, there are seen as unable to hold a higher position. This led to women only receiving lower paying jobs, yet again hindering their ability to support themselves or their families. As I think about becoming a mother in the future, the idea of not having equal pay because they assume that I am a primary caregiver and am not serious about work offends me. Women provide future generations and because of that they are not taken seriously in the work place.
These stereotypes all affect how women get paid. It decreases the amount of money a woman has to support her family. Not only does it hurt the women’s wallet, but also it is illegal. Sex discrimination was prohibited in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Some people think that women are paid unequally because they are in poor paying jobs and that if you put women in higher paying jobs, we would solve the wage gap problem. It is not that simple. Women even in high paying jobs are still earning only a portion of a man’s dollar.
According to Claudia Goldin’s research, “Women doctors or surgeons earn 71% of men’s wages…Women who are lawyers and judges make 85%.” Some jobs though, are very close to closing the wage gap. For example, women pharmacists earn 91% of what men make. Dr. Goldin said that the trick is workplace flexibility in terms of hours and location. She said, “The gender gap in pay would be considerably reduced and might vanish altogether if firms did not have incentive to disproportionately reward individuals who labored long hours and worked particular hours.”
Occupations that have the widest pay gaps are jobs that value long hours such as law, business and surgery. Employers pay people who spend more time in the office disproportionally. For example, a lawyer who works 80 hours will receive more than double one who works 40 hours. Therefore, rewarding those who work more hours, which is unfair to those who don’t. Occupations that have the slimmest pay gaps are ones in which employees can substitute for one another (they are equal). The workers are paid proportionally to another. For example, a pharmacist who works 40 hours will only receive double that of one who worked 20 hours. More equally paying all workers. Women who are mothers tend to want that flexibility. It doesn’t matter as much for men. Therefore, men work more hours, and receive higher pay.
Pushing for the pay equality for women is very important. It’s important not only now, but also for future generations of women in the working force. As I think about leaving high school, going into college and thinking about my future job, it is unsettling to think that because I am female, I will receive less money than a male doing the job even though I may be just as qualified and I present the same quality of work. Also, in the changing economy, it is terrifying to think that I will receive less money than a male, therefore causing me to be less financially secure not only individually, but also familiarly.
The inequality can no longer be justified in this day and age. How can a man, employer or anyone deny a woman of equal pay, when she is not just a caretaker anymore? Women are just as important in financially supporting the family as a man. There is no such thing as “women’s work” or “men’s work” because now women are also the “breadwinners”. Women are able to do the same work as men. Its sad that even after all these years since the Equal Pay Act, the wage gap is still a substantial amount.
There are many things one can do to help close the wage gap. To get more involved, one can raise awareness of this ongoing issue. One can also try to decrease and stop stereotypes among not only women but also other people. Girls, don’t allow yourself to be paid less because of your gender! Stand up for yourself and for other women in the work force. Don’t allow yourself to be put into stereotypes. Closing the wage gap will help not only the women of today but will also help future generations of females to come.
