“Pay gaps result from the choices women make, such as career choices, education, and experience, hours and work schedules, and career interruptions.” (Greszeler) Women still earn only 75 cents for every $1 a man earns. Gender wage gap has been in effect since the late 1950s and this wage gap narrowed but persisted (Blau and Kahn). Discrimination and unfair treatment is the first thing people think of, but knowing what a wage gap is, the importance of this wage gap, and seeing statistics of the gender wage gap will make this understandable.
“Since the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, the wage gap has been closing at a very slow rate.” The concluding of the wage gap between women and men has been at a rate …show more content…
Gaps in wages are not just particularly male and female, but there are various reasons for the existence of wage gaps. Discrimination is said to be the problem, but many people have a different view of this. Blau and Kahn both have a viewpoint that “ Women have less work experience in qualifications is quantitatively important”. In Blau and Kahn’s research, they also inform the reader that workplace discrimination and direct discrimination are two types of discrimination women face. The Human Rights Campaign website defines workplace discrimination as “ discrimination based on gender indentity and sexual orientation”; and according to Compact Law , direct discrimination is “when and employee or prospective employee is less favorably treated because of their race, sex, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age , disability, pregnancy, or maternity.” Blau and Kahn states, “ Women anticipate shorter and more discontinuous work lives” and that is why women face direct discrimination. Workplace discrimination occurs because “many women may not be able to handle the hard labor a job bares” (Blau and Kahn) The difference in rates of pay between men and women does not only affect women; the difference affects their children and their future also. When women do not make enough money to provide for their family, their children are affected because they are not able to get what they …show more content…
“Women steer towards health and education jobs and men tend to steer toward Stem careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).” In each career that could possibly be chosen as a STEM career women’s percentage of choosing that career is less than men’s choice. STEM career choices for women are less than men because women are into caring professions (Case Worker, Psychology, Drama and Arts et…) ,and men are into people free projects. Women and their interruptions such as pregnancy, sickness and family problems are greater than men. Patten and Greszler say “these types of interruptions can have an impact on long term earnings” (Patten). 39% of women take off, 42% reduce their hours to take care of their children or other family, and 27% quit their jobs