Across the world there is a huge implications that come with being male or female. Assumed responsibilities, respect in leadership roles, and economic benefits differ between these two groups. Although people in the United States would like to believe that we have abolished gender discrimination, along with racial and religious discrimination, it is easily seen in the way each of the nation’s work force is treated. Up until 2010, it was even legal to discriminate between men and women when determining health care costs. Being a woman was considered a preexisting condition. Three concerns that I would like to highlight are the wage gap, the glass ceiling, and holdovers from when the United States was a more sexist country.
This most prominent discussion topic regarding women in the workplace is the wage gap. Different studies estimate different percentages but most agree that men usually get paid more for the same job as a female peer. Whether this Is due to employers wanting to account for maternity leave and other similar benefits or if it is because of this country’s history of sexism, it is an unfair practice. This issue has actually received a lot of publicity, featuring on Obama’s platform before the election. However, the wage gap is still prominent, often being estimated around 20 cents on the dollar. This can have a significant impact of quality of life because most American homes feature to sets of income, from the mother and father. The estimated difference in lost earnings is over ten thousand dollars, enough money to buy a year’s supply of groceries or.
Related to the wage gap is the glass ceiling, a catchy term used to publicize the trend that women are often never given the opportunity to fill high profile positions. Although more women now attend college than men it is not reflected in high profile positions in management. One recent study of 60 major corporations, conducted by Joanna Barsh and Lareina Yee, states that women make up 53 percent of the entry-level work but only contribute as 27 percent of vice presidents. The higher a position is on the corporate ladder, the less likely a woman to be appointed. This is detrimental to economic growth as it limits half of the population from fulfilling their potentials and also encourages the promotion of less qualified individuals. Capitalist societies rely on inefficient companies going bankrupt and well run corporations thriving, but failing companies also have huge negative impacts on the economy by decreasing jobs and possibly manufacturing. Ideally, corporations should be run by the best person for the job, but this is impossible if the determining factor is unrelated to that person’s productivity and ability.
The source of many gender related problems in economic growth is the continued belief of many stigmas women were associated with in the 1950s and 1960s. Beliefs such as the one that women should be housewives and marry a man who supports them is an archaic idea that is no longer practical. Especially in places like New York City, where people need a special tenacity and persistence to succeed, this belief often joked about among children of young ages is detrimental to young girls’ mental growth. However, this is also a belief shared among adults. This is clearly seen during election season when many male politicians are joined by their supportive wife who doesn’t work but instead exemplifies the old ideals of a “good” wife. Unfortunately, this is just one of many principles that need to be changed in society that wants to think of itself as fair.
References:
http://www.who.int/social_determinants/resources/csdh_media/wgekn_final_report_07.pdf
https://hbr.org/2015/03/the-throwback-sexism-of-kleiner-perkins
https://hbr.org/2013/09/women-in-the-workplace-a-research-roundup
