Many times we have heard in the media about the so-called wage gap, always related to inequality between men and women. But what is the wage gap? Really exist? Can it be remedied?
We will answer these questions and more in this article. If you want to know exactly what the salary gap is, what it consists of and if it can be remedied, I recommend that you continue reading.
What is meant by pay gap?
First of all, we are going to explain what the wage gap is. It is basically the difference between the average salary received by men and the average salary received by women who carry out the same work activity. In other words: The wage gap is what women earn less than men, always referring to the average. In order for this measurement to be valid, it is essential that the comparison be made between the salaries received by men and women who have a job of the same value, in the same sector and whose working conditions are the same.
However, There are other factors that must be taken into account. and that influence this wage gap. An example would be that there are fewer women than men who hold managerial positions today, but on the other hand they have a higher percentage when it comes to occupying low-skilled jobs.
We must remember that, since 1919, the International Labor Organization recognized the right to equal pay for gender. However, everything seems to indicate that it is not currently being fulfilled.
The wage gap: An irrefutable reality
As we have already mentioned, to determine if there really is a wage gap, we must take into account the difference between the remuneration between men and women who have the same job and also the same number of hours. In order to carry out this calculation, se should analyze a series of general indicators based on objective data:
- Both the proportion of salaried women and their share of the total number of all hours worked.
- The number of women in lower-paying jobs.
- The employment rate for each sex (this has been added as an indicator in recent studies).
- The average salary based on different units of measurement. These can be per hour, per week or even per month. An example would be gross hourly pay.
- The ratio of women's wages to the sum of all wages.
- Salary supplements applied to the base salary.
What causes the pay gap?
Now that we know what the pay gap is, let's think about the reasons that can cause it. One of the main causes is gender discrimination. Since ancient times, women and men have been greatly differentiated, the latter being the ones in charge in most cultures of supporting the family, holding jobs and making a career. On the other hand, women used to take care of the home and family more. What is the consequence of this? That it was the men who brought home money and who have always been "smart enough" and "strong enough" to do all kinds of jobs.
Even today, beliefs and education rooted in attitudes and norms of the past continue to echo in current times, affecting the inequality between men and women. This also brings us to another possible cause of the pay gap: The evaluation criteria of the different jobs. It is quite common for them to give less importance to the performance of women than to men.
In addition, there are several jobs that are traditionally considered more for men than for women. That is to say: It is still considered that a woman does not have the same capacities as men to perform it. Some examples for this would be the following jobs: Mechanic, police, firefighter, bricklayer, etc. There is also the so-called "glass ceiling". It is about the difficulty that women have to get important managerial positions in certain sectors.
As we can see, the salary gap has several possible causes. They are quite difficult to undo, since this accumulation of factors are deeply embedded in the business culture of many organizations, although it shouldn't be.
How to close the wage gap?
Once we have understood what the wage gap is, we will understand the importance of ending it. The most effective and important measure to accomplish this task is education. This is the calves for everything. It is essential to be educated about gender equality from a very early age. In addition, both awareness and dissemination of the population are of the utmost importance. Of course, companies also have to do their part, promoting it within their organizational culture.
Another measure that can be taken to eradicate the pay gap is preparation of salary audits that can reflect the existing inequalities, the reasons why they exist and the methods that should be used to combat them. We must not forget that, today, companies are required to carry out an equality plan, at least those with more than fifty employees. A salary audit must always be included in this plan.
It would also be very helpful promote quality jobs and high ranks among women. It is clear that talent does not depend on gender, so workers cannot be valued for their gender, it must be done for their performance.
In conclusion we can say that the salary gap is a serious problem and that it must be eliminated. For this, different factors must come into play, such as education, business awareness and regulatory action by governments and political parties. It is the only way to achieve a work environment that is fair and equal for everyone.