Women have always been working, say it medieval age or modern age, when recognized, when not, women always took care of their duties. They not only worked when they were less educated or illiterate but also when highly qualified. Since the wind of industrialization touched the society only men working for livelihood was not enough anymore. Even it was partly for society’s rapid development in the Victorian age women had to work as well as children. Women because of their availability and flexibility in work hours were more favorable to employers. But what was hidden behind the curtain was the fact of women’s being ill paid. Maybe because the women who worked mostly worked as laborers and had no education then but even now in 2016, where women are no less competent than men regarding educational qualifications and even leadership or entrepreneur skills, they are low-paid.
More and more women are working in male-dominated fields nowadays without making the money they deserve. Workers salaries are dropping as industries hire more women over time. From 1950 to 2000, biologists’ wages were down 18% and designers’ wages dropped by 34%, both industries that have become more open to women over time. Men in I.T make more money on average than women in H.R. even male janitors make 22% more than female maids and housecleaners. These examples and statistics don’t end here, the list could go on.
Those were the facts and now let us look at the excuses given which might sound very medieval and lame, for example: women’s lack of education is still held responsible for the pay gap in some places. But the reality is, women are pursuing higher education than men, plus women do better in academic results also, it is evident in every educational institutions nowadays. Another claim that is invalid now is that women don’t possess work experience. Women now are more positive and open minded than before, all around the world, be it a developed or underdeveloped country. They take up challenges, explore and gather experience. Men need to earn more because men are breadwinners and have to run a family, women’s earning just come as an extra is what some people still believe. But in today’s situation, women choose their lifestyle and being competent enough they sometimes live by themselves or support their parents and sometimes singlehandedly raise children, a scenario which we see very often now as there are increasing presence of single-mothers and widows. So excuses made to deny women their deserved wage are certainly not acceptable.
On another note, of the 30 top paying fields in the U.S, 26 are male-dominated, so we still have a long way to go.
Benazir Elahee Munni