You’ve probably heard about the gender gap and that’s because it’s a problem that cuts across almost every industry and especially the technology industry. The gender gap is defined as a relative inequality between people of different genders, and although it is usually related to wage differences between men and women, it can also refer to rights, benefits, or levels of participation and access.
The Global Gender Gap Report is an annual report that assesses the gaps between men and women in the following areas: economic participation and opportunity, health and livelihoods, educational attainment, and political empowerment. This report was made through its analysis in 146 countries. In this way, it will reduce the fact that, at the current rate, it will take 132 years to achieve gender equality. However, there is no need to panic as significant progress has been made and will continue to progress over time.
Gender Gap Statistics
The gender gap varies significantly depending on where we look. There are two main gender gaps that exist in the workforce. These are the pay gap and the employment gap.
- Globally, women are paid 20 cents less than men and there are 25% more men employed than women.
- In Europe, there are 11% more men employed than women and, per hour, women earn on average 13% less than men.
- In the United States, women earn about 17 cents less than men, and women are much less likely to get promoted at work.
We could dedicate an entire blog series or even do official reports related to the gender gap. We could talk about what it is, in what ways it can be presented and much more. However, for now we will focus on the effects of the gender gap and the steps that can be taken to reduce it.
The effects of the gender gap
The simple truth is that the gender gap has significant effects on society and begins to affect people from childhood. Stereotypes can affect the way children see themselves from a young age and can also influence the choices adolescents make about what to study, where to study, and their future opportunities. On the other hand, it must be understood that, although most of the effects that gender inequality produces are clear, such as lower pay or limited opportunities for professional growth, there are more effects that are so integrated in our society that we may not even notice. we realize they exist.
For example, in households where there are two parents who are both employed (this phenomenon continues to grow), women still must take on a disproportionate amount of household chores and responsibilities. Studies show that, on average, women spend 8.5 more hours per week on household chores than men. In the same way, it is often women who provide informal and unpaid care for family members. In addition to the unpaid nature of such responsibility, caring for family members who are sick or disabled can harm the mental health of the caregiver.
Education is another area that is severely affected by the gender gap. Although general access to education has improved in recent years, there are certain areas that are more affected than others. Thus, young women tend to have limited access to college or higher education. Some areas, such as the area of technology, are more affected than other areas. This is because girls who do not finish high school do not receive the basic knowledge of technology. However, there are other consequences of underdeveloped educational opportunities as well. For example, women who do not have access to sexual or reproductive education are affected in their chances of continuing to advance in their studies.
In the workplace, even those women who hold titles and high-level positions must face situations of gender discrimination and practices designed for men. For example, in job interviews women are often asked about their plans to start a family or if they are planning a pregnancy. Also, women are expected to take considerable time when expecting a child. At the same time, women are also expected to take days off to care for children when they are sick, attend school or sporting events, or are expected to prioritize their children rather than work. This is definitely not usually associated with her male colleagues.
The effects of such assumptions and expectations can cause drastic consequences and lead to the following situations:
- Lower rates of schooling and employment for women
- Lower pay for doing the same job
- Higher stress levels
- Higher rates of unpaid work (women must care for children or family members)
- Exposure to increased levels of sexual assault and gender-based violence
- A lack of representation in government
Furthermore, this imbalance can lead to mental health problems. Compared to men, women are:
- 2 times more likely to suffer from anxiety and have a panic disorder
- 2 times more likely to suffer from depression throughout their lives
- 4 to 10 times more likely to have an eating disorder
- More than 2 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder
- More likely to commit a suicide attempt
How to combat the gender gap?
Many of the problems related to the gender gap arise from systematic oppression and a long history of structures created for men. However, there has been a lot of progress of late, and there will continue to be more. Some of the actions we can take to foster growth opportunities for women include:
- Invest in infrastructure: There are many factors that can prevent women from entering the workforce or pursuing higher education. For that reason, governments must take appropriate measures to protect those rights. For example, the government of Mexico implemented the use of exclusive buses for women to guarantee a safe trip. On the other hand, the Indian government built sanitary facilities to ensure women feel safe at work or school.
- Push for equality in maternity and paternity leave: In principle, all countries should provide generous maternity leave to new mothers. At the same time, countries must provide equal maternity and paternity leave to ensure that both parents take responsibility for taking time off and it is not just the women.
- Make childcare accessible or free: Childcare is extremely expensive. In addition, it is usually the woman who quits her job or goes to work part-time to be able to stay at home with the children. For that reason, companies and countries that offer free or low-cost childcare help encourage women to return to work after pregnancy.
- Giving women the tools they need to succeed: Women face different obstacles in education and employment. For example, they must face higher loan rates and gender discrimination. Therefore, governments should prioritize facilitating access for women.
