Wage-Gender gap

[jump79]

Is anyone surprised that the gender wage gap is still an issue in 2006? The discrimination in the workplace means not only are some women pushed into the lowest-paid jobs, but those who are qualified and make it into better paid industries, are still held back in favor of men. Will women ever earn an equal pay as men, or are there just too many chauvanistic employers in the country who prefer keeping the prestigious 'old boys' club to themselves?

[jump79]

sorry, should be "**not all one-sided"

[Coobeastie]

Sorry I might be being incredibly dumb here but i don't recall seeing specific jobs advertised as:

Administration Manager 23k per annum (oh unless you're a women in which case its 18k).

Surely the wage devide is just down to what jobs men/women take. Which boils down to personal choice.

[jump79]

Coobeastie- I think, often when jobs are advertised, the salary stated is usually the minimum/standard pay the firm is willing to allocate for the job. It can be up for negotiation... in which case, the bias may be more apparent.
Depending on the employer(as not all are biased, I agree), if he's discriminating, he/she would be less likely to raise the salary by a large %, for a woman, than for a man applying for that job position.

[Coobeastie]

Thanks Jump tis a fair comment.

I still think a lot of it boils down to personal choice though. Speaking for myself (I'm male) I am purposely holding my job at a low level (I have been offered promotion opportunities) as I intend to leave in the next year or so to be a househusband and feel I'd just be wasting my employers time and resources.

I just wonder if women do likewise and it is that is affecting some of the findings.

[jump79]

Coobeastie- you're right, the gender gap may appear more distorted if men and women make vastly different career choices. But from what I read about the Commission's report that researched this gap, the wage discrepancy existed between men and women doing the Same Work... and that is what I find particularly unfair.

I'm not saying this view isn't debatable and that other factors have no affect on the wage gap- the obvious one being, women who want to bear children- but I think in many cases, women are held back even when they have proven they are committed to their jobs. They may not face direct or deliberate discrimination, but are often not given a chance to prove themselves- whether it be promotion or opportunities for career advancement.

[Booldawg]

The wage-gender gap takes into consideration the amount of time female employees spend crying in the toilets or nipping out to buy chocolate.

[jump79]

....and while the women are away, the men drop off more work on their desks that they themselves just can't be bothered to do. Which leads back to the unfair wage gap which exists even when women are doing more/all the work.