Why do women earn less money than men?

[noname223]

This evening I try to watch a soccer game so I will be less active. But I will make one thread to honor the international women's day today.

There are several possible reasons:

-occupational segregation: women are often concentrated in lower-paying jobs or fields, while men are overrepresented in higher-paying professions.

Reasons for that would be for example social norms and stereotypes.

-unequal distribution of caring and domestic work between men and women. Women are often responsible for unpaid workl like child- or elderly care. When women are pregnant they are often affected by discrimination at job interviews for example. The game is often rigged against them when men usually prefer other men in high positions. I think in order that women get to very high positions they often have to show a very significant superior performance. Moreover when women care for family members their careers often take damage.

Recently there was a court decision in my country. A woman with a very similar job to another man earned 20% less at the same company. She sued the company and won. The company argumented the man would have negotiated better and the court did not consider that a valid excuse.

Personally I think this was only a lazy excuse. I think women are often underestimated in such a context compared to men. There are more role models for young boys to become a successful politician, leader, CEO etc. So the trend reinforces itself. My country suffers a lot due to lacking high skilled workers. I think we underestimate how much women could help us. There has to be more flexibility to integrate them into jobs. I think I am in favor of quotas for women in high positions. However I don't have in-depth knowledge and I am not fully sure about my stance.

The situation in other countries is even way worse. It is heartbreaking to see that young girls are prohibited in Afghanistan and many other countries to go to college or higher schools. These stories are very tragic. Or another topic which is not very known. In wars rape is a common strategy to demoralize the population. Women are often the target but not always.

What do you think are the reasons that women earn less money than men? Do you think it is justified?

 

[zeenatax]

Basically you spelled out most of the reasons. No you can not justify it. The system is totally rigged against women. The system controlled by men is biased against women specially in the private sector corporations. It used be like that in government and nonprofit sectors but in these sectors there are some improvements because there are concerted efforts by these sectors to hiring more women. I don't think a quota system is good bc it sound like hiring less qualified people to a position. Currently on average women are much more educated than men. There's more women with degrees than men except in few fields like engineering. Hiring based on merit alone will do the job. In the government and nonprofit pay is standardized and based on education and experience. Basic good performance for everyone is good enough. In my experience working in all three sectors I would say women are better in job performance than men. ( I am a male) I work in white collar profession. In the private sector you never going achieve pay parity. It is old boys network. Pay is based on perception and who you know. Overall in general population the pay inequality is going to persist because most of the jobs are in private sectors and pay in government and nonprofit sectors are much lower. Yes more and more law suits are necessary.

 

[themisbelow]

Isn't this something that would fit more in the political board? Genuine question

 

[Disappointered]

Women take time out of their careers if they become mothers. They consequently become less valuable compared to those in the same career path who don't take time out to have children. Up until recently (and maybe even today) women's sense of success depended less on career/money than men's.

 

[sukasuka]

Since the beginning of time everything has been against women. I often think about how many more female warriors there would be in history if everyone was equal from the very start.

 

[savoytruffle]

i read somewhere that patriarchal society began quite recently in human history. i wonder how more primitive humans lived without this burden

 

[lionetta12]

This evening I try to watch a soccer game so I will be less active. But I will make one thread to honor the international women's day today.

There are several possible reasons:

-occupational segregation: women are often concentrated in lower-paying jobs or fields, while men are overrepresented in higher-paying professions.

Reasons for that would be for example social norms and stereotypes.

-unequal distribution of caring and domestic work between men and women. Women are often responsible for unpaid workl like child- or elderly care. When women are pregnant they are often affected by discrimination at job interviews for example. The game is often rigged against them when men usually prefer other men in high positions. I think in order that women get to very high positions they often have to show a very significant superior performance. Moreover when women care for family members their careers often take damage.

Recently there was a court decision in my country. A woman with a very similar job to another man earned 20% less at the same company. She sued the company and won. The company argumented the man would have negotiated better and the court did not consider that a valid excuse.

Personally I think this was only a lazy excuse. I think women are often underestimated in such a context compared to men. There are more role models for young boys to become a successful politician, leader, CEO etc. So the trend reinforces itself. My country suffers a lot due to lacking high skilled workers. I think we underestimate how much women could help us. There has to be more flexibility to integrate them into jobs. I think I am in favor of quotas for women in high positions. However I don't have in-depth knowledge and I am not fully sure about my stance.

The situation in other countries is even way worse. It is heartbreaking to see that young girls are prohibited in Afghanistan and many other countries to go to college or higher schools. These stories are very tragic. Or another topic which is not very known. In wars rape is a common strategy to demoralize the population. Women are often the target but not always.

What do you think are the reasons that women earn less money than men? Do you think it is justified?

Idk the reason in other countries but statistically here women work less overtime, more of them work part time as opposed to full time and they more often work in public sector instead of the private one. Everywhere I've worked I'd make more than my male colleagues who had the same job title as me because I would work more overtime, the most demanding shifts and I would ask for more responsibilities. Women might also be a little more passive and not ask for raises or salary negotiations as often as some men might do.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Since the beginning of time everything has been against women. I often think about how many more female warriors there would be in history if everyone was equal from the very start.

I'm not so sure actually- like @savoytruffle said- I believe a major shift happened with the introduction of patriarchal religion and rule. I read a book about Mother Goddesses once and back in the day- when it was matriarchal rule- women (unsurprisingly) had a lot more respect and power.

 

[purity]

I'm not so sure actually- like @savoytruffle said- I believe a major shift happened with the introduction of patriarchal religion and rule. I read a book about Mother Goddesses once and back in the day- when it was matriarchal rule- women (unsurprisingly) had a lot more respect and power.

its been theorized, but i believe theres no solid proof.