For every dollar a man makes, a woman makes 77 cents.
Unfortunately, this is just one factor of gender disparity in the workplace, and the problem goes beyond the wage gap.
On average, women enjoy only three-quarters of all men’s rights in the workplace.
Namely, a “Women, Business and the Law” report from 2019 measured workplace discrimination through eight indicators, from freedom of movement to acquiring a pension. The findings revealed that only six countries worldwide passed all criteria with full marks.
The U.S. was not one of them.
Women in the Workplace, an annual report by McKinsey, shows that for every 100 men that receive promotions, 87 women get the same opportunity. The promotion rate is even lower for women of color, at just 84 for every 100 men. The findings reveal that this is especially true in senior leadership positions, considering how only one in four C-suite leaders is female, and one in 20 is a woman of color.
An explanation for why this remains a problem well into the 21st century would be the bias and discrimination women face. Apart from the systematic obstructions to promotions and unequal wages, this also takes the form of microaggression, stereotypes, and sexism.
Women are still primarily seen as mothers and caregivers and less as providers and leaders.
One poll by Samsung U.K. and Ireland shows that they were three times more likely than men to be asked to make tea or coffee in the workplace and twice as likely to be asked about their children. Even more devastating was that they were often the target of sexist jokes in both informal and formal settings.
The poll also revealed that:
- 47% of respondents asked for training on inclusivity for all genders
- 30% want training on gendered language and how to change it
- 28% want companies to review terminology in job descriptions
- 27% believe employers should review external messaging language
- 24% want more positive messaging and signage in the office
There are many things that companies can do to challenge the status quo, from educating employees to changing company policies. Ultimately, it all comes down to acknowledging, supporting, and empowering women in business.