Waging War On The Wage Gap

Waging War on The Wage Gap

Picture a man and a woman, doing the same job, working the same amount of time at the same office, the only difference occurring in their paycheck. Women in 2016 are still earning only 79 cents to the man’s dollar. This does not seem like an overwhelming statistic but that 21 cents adds up to the average woman losing over $10,000 per year. The wage gap is an ongoing  form of sexism and inequality in the workplace that has been present since women entered the workforce.  It has been considered taboo to talk about salary in our society but such a problematic issue facing half of the population must be discussed and resolved. The wage gap affects women across America when it comes to choosing a career,college debt, retirement, and family life.

College debt is a burden that controls every college student once they enter the workforce. A recent study by the American Association of University Women showed that 53% of women are paying more towards their student loan payments than they can afford compared to only 39% of men. With college debt and daily expenses, the average woman has no time to think about paying for retirement in the future. The pay gap leaves women, especially minorities, paying more money and for a longer time to pay off college debt. The same concept is implied when saving up for retirement. On average, women live up to 3 years more than men, meaning they have to save extra to retire. Retirement savings are based off of personal savings, a pension or retirement plan, and a Social Security benefit, but women today are not earning as much in personal savings or pension, leaving them with fewer resources to invest. Women over the age of 65 have a poverty rate of 11.6% compared to men’s 6.8% because of their lack of ability to save up for a “financial cushion” to fall back on in a financial issue such as a medical issue or losing their job.  For decades, women have been expected to pay a higher amount of money  while receiving reduced pay.

When it comes to jobs, women have been fulfilling the same duties for decades. While it has been the social norm for women to be nurses, teachers, and caregivers, this paired with the lower pay for women has led to the devaluation of feminized jobs. These important roles in society have been considered insignificant compared to “male” jobs in science and math. When women do pursue jobs in male dominated fields, they still experience a wage gap. Women in STEM fields would have to receive a master’s degree in a career where men only need a bachelor’s degree to receive equal pay. According to the US Census, women historically have had fewer opportunities to achieve the highest earnings in their profession, despite their equal level of education to their male counterparts. When women are not able to save as much money as men, there is a smaller room for error when it comes to entrepreneurship and new career ventures for women, confining them to the same feminized jobs.

When you picture a typical American family, women automatically conform to the stereotype of the “stay at home mom” while men are still often seen as the major breadwinner of the family. Women often fill this position because if they were the primary income, it would not provide enough financial stability for a family due to lack of pay. Women are often required to pay for  “luxury goods” such as feminine products and overpriced versions of products once the statement “for women” is put on it. The Pink Tax is another financial burden on families, especially mothers, who are not receiving equal pay and are required to pay extra for necessities. When women are the caregivers of the family it is normal or even as if they are less qualified to work but when men fulfill the role, they are praised for their “enlightenment” or creating a “modern family dynamic”. But, women working to provide for their families are still judged as “unmotherly”. When it comes to earning money for a family, women just can’t win the approval of society.

Women who have been affected by the wage gap through career choice, financial stability in families, or college debt and retirement are seeking a change. The answer may seem simple enough which is to provide equal pay for both men and women, but the government needs to start funding for federal agencies enforcing fair pay. Workplaces need to start providing family friendly workplace standards for men and women to fit the needs of all workers providing for a family at work and at home. Making changes could lead to the workplace dynamic being changed while women enter new fields and improve others with their greater social standing and newfound equality.

Works Cited

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Https://www.facebook.com/CNBC. "You Thought the Wage Gap Was Bad? Consider This." CNBC. CNBC, 19 Oct. 2015. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.