In my previous blog, I showed light on the definition of gender pay gap and its critical reasons. However, in context to my previous findings, I would now like to focus on whether or not the gender pay gap have been lessen in these years?
In these ten years of time, lot of things have been changed. Life is much more convenient because of the emerging technologies, global warming is at high risk, redundancy rates and criminal rates are rising like the sea level, Cheryl Cole and Ashley are on the process to get divorced, Simon Cowell ultimately found his “soul mate” and at long last a female director has been acknowledged at the Oscar Awards, 2010(yippee!!! Well done woman!).And it seems like I just celebrated my 10th birthday yesterday (when I got a beautiful tiara!) but sadly I am 20 this year. Time is flying like never to return! However, the question is, Are we flying with time? Have we changed or improved our perception towards our society and our so called traditions? Have we started believing in equality and respecting each other despite of our gender, caste, culture and age?
As I mentioned in my previous research, the gender pay gap have many causes. Women are compelled to choose over the family and parenthood to their career. Due to which women are inclined to do part time jobs than full times. However, there has been a drastic change in these differences over the years. The gender pay gap has moved from 24% to 19% over the decade. (BHPS data, E,F,G (corresponding to 1995,1996 and 1997) and waves N,O,P and Q(broadly corresponding to 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007)).Well, it seems like the other half of the glass is still full. Now lets see the factors that has affected in changing the demography of the gender pay gap over the decade.
The gender pay gap can be analysed on the basis of hourly pay rate. One standard measures ,compares women’s overall earnings by men working as a full time by which pay gap is 21% (2004-2007).The overall pay gap has decreased by 4% since 1990’s from 29% to 19% or 25% to 21% depends on which denominator has been used. Men’s full time pay was £12.71 per hour and women’s was £10.85 per hour in 2004 – 2007.
In some cases, “being a female” becomes the main reason for the differences in pay gap. The overall difference in wages was 12% in 2007 and was 16% in 1997. The pay gap still existed even after the control over education, age, firm, size and region. Still today, men are seen as the “bread winner” of the family. Therefore, women are more pushed towards family responsibility. The gendered stereotypes at workplace also affect the differences in pay gaps.
The occupation segregation is another key factor. There was 15%-17% of pay gaps in periods, 90’s and 2000. Each individual’s occupation is classified into a standard occupation classification job heading, and then percentage of workers in UK who are male for each occupational category is calculated. The highest male segregation is in industry and primary sectors whereas high percentages of women are still found working in caring work or customer services- where there is lowest percentage of male segregations.
The Industrial sector also plays an important role in gender pay gap. There was 8% pay difference in this sector in 1997. However, it has been reduced to 5% by 2007. Women in these sectors still get much low pay than men. Women earn 17% less wage per hour than men.
Gender pay gap leads to poverty as well. The gender pay gap plays a key role in this difference as the inequalities between men and women’s salaries over a lifetime can have a significant impact on women’s earnings and pensions. This leads to older women having a higher risk of poverty (22%) compared to men (16%).(European Commission, employment social affairs and equal opportunities, 18/03/2010)
Thus, after my research over the changes in gender pay gap over the decade, I can say that, there have been incredible changes in the differences in pay gaps. However, there are still some gaps that we need to fill in. As we all know, there is always a light in the other side of the tunnel, lets be positive and hopefully, in next couple of years the term “glass ceilings”, gender pay gap would be removed from our day to day life dictionary.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Friday, 12 March 2010
Women from Pots to Plots........(revised)
“Equality is vital, not only for individuals, but for the society as a whole.” – Equality Minister Hariet Harman.s
“Woman” – A woman (irregular plural: women) is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent. However, the term woman is also sometimes used to identify a female human, regardless of age, as in phrases such as "Women's rights (Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia).
A woman is someone’s daughter, wife/partner, mother, daughter- in law, aunty; She is addressed with so many names and relations, that sometimes she forgets her real name. The social, and so-called “civilised” society governs women, to such an extent that they disregard their own existence. Most of the time, they are dominated in such a manner that they are bound to live their life at others convenience.
It is true that women’s social status at present is much better than it was in last ten years. People are more educated and aware now, however, the term “gender discrimination “ still exists. Women today, are given opportunity but are chained with social and cultural responsibilities as well. Because of which she is bound to choose her personal /family life over her career. It does not matter, how talented women are, their competence are still considered to be mediocre to men. Clare Boothe Luce says, “Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes.” This kind of detrimental beliefs of people is the reason why, After 40 years of implementation of equal pay rights, women still today earns 87 pence for the every £1 men earn. The “Gender pay” gap still exists.
Men are still perceived as the “bread winner” for the family. Thus, they command a higher pay. It is a fact that, women in industries, is a new history as those who used to work in past, worked in traditional sectors like nursing, caring, cleaning etc. Men still dominate the upper tiers of the business world, which is where the money is. Men dominate the power structure of most of the world, thus develop the policy.
The figures provided by the ONS suggests, the gender gap does increase with age and begins to stretch once women take time off to have children. According to the survey done by US bureau of Statistics (2006), 8,25,000 women were sacked or had missed out on pay rise because of their pregnancy leave. It’s logical that, the more you give out, the more you bring in. However, how fair is it to sack a woman for taking a maternity leave?
The three main complex reasons for gender pay gap are:
i) Caring responsibilities
ii) Part time working
iii) Sectoral and occupation segregation.
.
Due to the family responsibilities and motherhood, women are compelled to take time off from their career and focus on their children and family. Therefore, picking up children from the school or taking them to the hospitals for check ups wins the battle between career and personal life. Most of the women are bound to work as per the circumstances at home, which in due course lead them to drop their interested career and work for few shillings.
In private sector, the gender pay gap is elevated at the high levels; higher the post higher the difference. However, at public sectors, there is usually a standard rate (minimum rate) wage. The average numbers of women employed in higher level were only 5% among the 600 companies surveyed. (BBC News- World Economic Forum, 8th March 2010). It is also understood that disparity in educational qualifications is not very important characteristics in gender pay gap. It is because no matter how educated women are their capabilities are overlapped by the prejudicial thoughts of people.
Therefore, all the reasons for differences in wages are interlinked with the social and cultural factors as well as the awareness among people. It is true that the situation of women in the society or workplace is much better than it used to be, however, there are still some gaps and it is high time we underline the factors and work on it.
What do you think???
Sources: US Bureau of Statistics, Government Equality Office, UK, Office of National Statistics, World Economic Forum.
“Woman” – A woman (irregular plural: women) is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent. However, the term woman is also sometimes used to identify a female human, regardless of age, as in phrases such as "Women's rights (Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia).
A woman is someone’s daughter, wife/partner, mother, daughter- in law, aunty; She is addressed with so many names and relations, that sometimes she forgets her real name. The social, and so-called “civilised” society governs women, to such an extent that they disregard their own existence. Most of the time, they are dominated in such a manner that they are bound to live their life at others convenience.
It is true that women’s social status at present is much better than it was in last ten years. People are more educated and aware now, however, the term “gender discrimination “ still exists. Women today, are given opportunity but are chained with social and cultural responsibilities as well. Because of which she is bound to choose her personal /family life over her career. It does not matter, how talented women are, their competence are still considered to be mediocre to men. Clare Boothe Luce says, “Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes.” This kind of detrimental beliefs of people is the reason why, After 40 years of implementation of equal pay rights, women still today earns 87 pence for the every £1 men earn. The “Gender pay” gap still exists.
Men are still perceived as the “bread winner” for the family. Thus, they command a higher pay. It is a fact that, women in industries, is a new history as those who used to work in past, worked in traditional sectors like nursing, caring, cleaning etc. Men still dominate the upper tiers of the business world, which is where the money is. Men dominate the power structure of most of the world, thus develop the policy.
The figures provided by the ONS suggests, the gender gap does increase with age and begins to stretch once women take time off to have children. According to the survey done by US bureau of Statistics (2006), 8,25,000 women were sacked or had missed out on pay rise because of their pregnancy leave. It’s logical that, the more you give out, the more you bring in. However, how fair is it to sack a woman for taking a maternity leave?
The three main complex reasons for gender pay gap are:
i) Caring responsibilities
ii) Part time working
iii) Sectoral and occupation segregation.
.
Due to the family responsibilities and motherhood, women are compelled to take time off from their career and focus on their children and family. Therefore, picking up children from the school or taking them to the hospitals for check ups wins the battle between career and personal life. Most of the women are bound to work as per the circumstances at home, which in due course lead them to drop their interested career and work for few shillings.
In private sector, the gender pay gap is elevated at the high levels; higher the post higher the difference. However, at public sectors, there is usually a standard rate (minimum rate) wage. The average numbers of women employed in higher level were only 5% among the 600 companies surveyed. (BBC News- World Economic Forum, 8th March 2010). It is also understood that disparity in educational qualifications is not very important characteristics in gender pay gap. It is because no matter how educated women are their capabilities are overlapped by the prejudicial thoughts of people.
Therefore, all the reasons for differences in wages are interlinked with the social and cultural factors as well as the awareness among people. It is true that the situation of women in the society or workplace is much better than it used to be, however, there are still some gaps and it is high time we underline the factors and work on it.
What do you think???
Sources: US Bureau of Statistics, Government Equality Office, UK, Office of National Statistics, World Economic Forum.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
A story of Women at work.....
Women are the main founders of the society; they are yet undermined by the so-called patriarch cal society. They are in constant struggle from workplace to bedroom. Why is it always women who has to make compromises most of the time; whether it be work place, home or society? There are a mountains of laws passed for women’s right in parliament, but have they been implemented properly? After 40 years of implementation of equal pay right, still today women earn 87 p for the every £1 men earn. Gender pay gap still exists.
At this, day and age, where women are no less than men in education, intelligence, or being conscientious, men are still seen as the “bread winner “ for the family. Thus, they command a higher pay. It is a fact that, women in industries, is a new history as those who used to work in past, worked in traditional sectors like nursing, caring, cleaning etc. Men still dominate the upper tiers of the business world, which is where the money is. Men dominate the power structure of most of the world, thus develop the policy. Women are given opportunities (in traditional sectors) along with the responsibility of family and parenthood. Figures provided by the ONS suggests the gender gap does increase with age and begins to stretch once women take time off to have children. According to the survey done by US bureau of Statistics, 8,25,000 women were sacked or their pay was not raised because of their pregnancy leave. It’s understandable that the more you serve, the more you are paid for it. However, how fair is it to sack a woman for taking a maternity leave?
The three main complex cause for gender pay gap are caring responsibilities, part time working and occupation segregation. Due to the family responsibilities and motherhood, women are compelled to take time off from their career and focus on her children and family. Therefore, picking up child from the school or taking them to the hospitals for check ups wins the battle between career and personal life. Most of the women are bound to work as per the circumstances at home, which in due course lead them to drop their interested career and work just for few shillings.
At workplace, no matter how diligent a female worker is, their work are always over looked as an inferior efficient than to the men by the people at the higher post ( men, most of the time) which automatically undermines their progress and promotions. The highest level of male segregation (61%) is technical workers and primary workers whereas the highest female segregation involves the lowest segregation (33%) of men
Therefore, the social and cultural factors are one of the key reasons for destabilization in the pay rate. It is true that the situation of women in the society or workplace is much better than it used to be, however, there are still some gaps and it is high time we do something to fill in the gaps. What do you think???
Sources: US Bureau of Statistics, Government Equality Office, UK, Office of National Statistics.
At this, day and age, where women are no less than men in education, intelligence, or being conscientious, men are still seen as the “bread winner “ for the family. Thus, they command a higher pay. It is a fact that, women in industries, is a new history as those who used to work in past, worked in traditional sectors like nursing, caring, cleaning etc. Men still dominate the upper tiers of the business world, which is where the money is. Men dominate the power structure of most of the world, thus develop the policy. Women are given opportunities (in traditional sectors) along with the responsibility of family and parenthood. Figures provided by the ONS suggests the gender gap does increase with age and begins to stretch once women take time off to have children. According to the survey done by US bureau of Statistics, 8,25,000 women were sacked or their pay was not raised because of their pregnancy leave. It’s understandable that the more you serve, the more you are paid for it. However, how fair is it to sack a woman for taking a maternity leave?
The three main complex cause for gender pay gap are caring responsibilities, part time working and occupation segregation. Due to the family responsibilities and motherhood, women are compelled to take time off from their career and focus on her children and family. Therefore, picking up child from the school or taking them to the hospitals for check ups wins the battle between career and personal life. Most of the women are bound to work as per the circumstances at home, which in due course lead them to drop their interested career and work just for few shillings.
At workplace, no matter how diligent a female worker is, their work are always over looked as an inferior efficient than to the men by the people at the higher post ( men, most of the time) which automatically undermines their progress and promotions. The highest level of male segregation (61%) is technical workers and primary workers whereas the highest female segregation involves the lowest segregation (33%) of men
Therefore, the social and cultural factors are one of the key reasons for destabilization in the pay rate. It is true that the situation of women in the society or workplace is much better than it used to be, however, there are still some gaps and it is high time we do something to fill in the gaps. What do you think???
Sources: US Bureau of Statistics, Government Equality Office, UK, Office of National Statistics.
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