Gender Pay Gap: Why Are Women Paid Less?

It's already common knowledge that people pay women less than men for performing equivalent work. It's aggravating that there is a real gender pay gap. Have you ever wondered why women receive lower wages? There are a few reasons this unfair pay difference exists and continues in many workplaces. These reasons aren't excuses—they indicate changes needed to achieve equal pay for equal work. To help close the pay gap, you must understand why are women paid less.

The History Behind Why Are Women Paid Less

For centuries, women didn’t receive equal treatment in the workplace. In the 1900s, women in the US earned half as much as men for the same work. Here’s a brief history behind why are women paid less.

Norms and Expectations

Social norms and expectations held women back. Society expected women to stay home, raise children, and handle household chores. When women did work, they handled "female" professions like teaching, nursing, and secretarial work that paid less. Men dominated higher-paying fields like law, medicine, and management, and no one question about why are women paid less.

Open Discrimination

Discriminatory practices were rampant. Women faced open discrimination, harassment, and hostility that limited their career options. They were routinely passed over for promotions and raises. Outright bans on hiring married women were common until the 1960s.

Underrepresentation

The pay gap persists due to these historical inequities. The choices and opportunities available to women today are still limited by the legacy of discrimination. Higher-paying fields underrepresent women. Today, women hold fewer leadership roles and face bias, leading to unequal pay for equal work.

Despite progress, the gender pay gap won't close without equal opportunity efforts. By understanding its complex history, everyone can work to dismantle the systems that have long disadvantaged and undervalued women in the workplace. With time and dedication, people don’t have to ask about why are women paid less because the pay gap can become a thing of the past.

Why Do Women Face Pay Gaps?

Why do women face pay gaps and workplace discrimination? You'll learn in this section that it depends on many variables.

Ongoing Societal Expectations

Society still expects women to handle most household and childcare responsibilities. This can make some jobs seem less attractive or feasible for women, especially those demanding long hours or frequent travel. It also means that women may need to take time off for maternity leave or reduce hours to care for family, impacting their pay and career progression.

Unconscious Bias

Subtle, implicit biases - like associating men with leadership roles and women with support roles - persist and affect how people are hired, promoted, and compensated. Studies show both men and women hold these unconscious biases, even with the best of intentions. Overcoming them will require ongoing awareness, education, and a commitment to evaluating candidates objectively based on skills and qualifications alone.

The "Motherhood Penalty"

Men's wages rise into their 50s and 60s, while women's peak is in their 40s. It is partly due to prejudice and the time women take to care for their children. People assume that women with children are less career-focused than men. It significantly increases the lifelong pay gap between men and women.

While people must address discrimination and bias, closing the gender pay gap will take time. But understanding its causes can help create a fairer and more just system. One where people receive compensation for their value, not their gender or family duties.

Steps Needed to Achieve Equal Pay for Women

To achieve equal pay for women, several steps need to be taken:

Pass Stronger Laws

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was a sign of progress, but this cause needs more work. Laws should address equal pay for equal work, salary history inquiries by prospective employers, and compensation discussion. States should also ban employers from retaliating against employees who discuss their pay.

Promote Pay Transparency

When salaries are secret, no one asks about why are women paid less. And these employers can get away with paying women less. The need for policies requiring companies to report pay gaps and correction plans is a must. Making salaries public allows employees to find and fix inequalities.

Enforce Existing Laws

Many equal pay laws exist but lack enforcement. Governments must actively audit companies, investigate violations, and impose fines on those breaking the law. Victims of pay discrimination should also consider pursuing legal action against their employers to push for change.

Change Workplace Culture

Even with the right laws and policies, workplace culture is slow to change. Many still ask about why are women paid less. That’s why employers need to make pay equity a priority. Start with re-examining hiring and promotion practices, setting equitable pay scales, and creating mentorship and advancement programs for women. Educating managers and employees about unconscious bias and stereotypes can help change attitudes.

Value "Women's" Work

Jobs predominantly done by women, like teaching, nursing, and childcare, tend to pay less. Society must value this work and advocate for higher wages and better working conditions in female-dominated fields. Governments, businesses, and communities must work together to achieve equal pay. Paying women less can be stopped by following these steps.

Conclusion

Despite the time changing, women still face a pay gap in the present century. This article explains why are women paid less than men for the same work. Reasons include discrimination, bias, life choices, and job positions.

Paying women less for their gender is unjust. The gender pay gap won't close overnight, but people can make progress by addressing discrimination, encouraging women to pursue higher-paying fields, offering more generous family leave and flexible work options, and advocating for pay transparency.