A Girl's Perspective on Closing the Gender Pay Gap

BY ELLIE KEUM

Gender equality. Airswift

While in the 21st century, the battle for gender equality has made significant strides, it remains a stark reality for women around the world. It is crucial to explore this issue from the perspective of the group soon-to-be affected by the inequality: girls. As this issue is one my friends and I may face in the near future, we find it important to discuss the challenges women face in the workforce, the necessity to bridge the gender pay gap, and the efforts needed to create a more equitable future. 

Simply, the gender pay gap refers to the difference in earnings between men and women. In 2022, studies showed that women, on average, earned about 82% of what men earned. While we may believe that women’s rights have leaped over the past two decades, the pay gap remains roughly the same: in 2002, women earned an average of 80% of what men earned. This pay gap is influenced by factors such as occupational segregation, discrimination, and systemic biases. 

Navigating the professional landscape as a woman brings unique challenges. Stereotypes and societal expectations limit career opportunities. Balancing family responsibilities, especially as a new mother, adds another set of hurdles to overcome. The impact of these challenges are seen in lower wages, rarer promotions, and restricted access to leadership positions. “One especially unfair aspect of the gender pay gap is unpaid maternity leave. Women must leave work in order to have a baby, and these beginning stages of being a mother are crucial and require much attention along with money,” said Alyssa Filmer, a 16 year-old girl. 

Women and men on the same scale. Pechakucha

It is not enough to advocate for these issues on third-party social media websites. In addition to reposts and Go-Fund-Me donations, more proactive measures are needed. Women can work towards change by speaking directly to their employers. Employers can breed equality within their companies by implementing a salary-transparent culture, promoting diversity and inclusion, and offering family-friendly policies that allow more freedom for new mothers struggling to balance their work with the extra care a newborn baby requires. 

However, government intervention also plays a large part in closing the gender pay gap. A more widespread and permanent solution lies in the government creating rules and regulations surrounding equal pay for equal work. The government can make efforts in this sense to mobilize public support and hold businesses accountable for discriminatory practices. Careers with the largest pay gaps are real estate brokers and personal finance advisors, where men earn an average of 60% and 58% more than their women counterparts, respectively. With the government’s support and attention drawn from women’s collective advocacy, the gender pay gap can advance closer to being bridged. 

Bridging this gap is not just about achieving economic equality. It is about overcoming barriers, dismantling stereotypes, and creating a workspace that acknowledges merit no matter what gender you identify as.