Despite recent progress toward gender equity, women are still being underpaid compared to their male coworkers – even if they have the same job.
Census data from the past eighty years shows that the percentage of women finishing four or more years of college has increased by 31.5%. Male graduation rates have also increased, but the majority of college graduates in recent years have been female. Even after Title VII was passed to end pay discrimination, women are still being treated as inferior.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW), a gender equity organization, released an official statement regarding the wage gap in the fall of 2019. Their research concluded that while women in general are underpaid, women of color suffer from even more finanicial discrimination. For every dollar a white male makes, a woman of color will make – on average – sixty four cents.
As women age, this discrimination follows them throughout their career. Women aged 55-65 face the widest gap between their paychecks and those of their male coworkers. As a result of a system that is desensitized to discrimination in pay, it accumulates until retirement.
The census data also revealed that discrepancy in pay directly impacts how retirement is funded. Women are paid less throughout their careers, so they cannot put as much money in Social Security as males. This leads to women being awarded 20% less in Social Security benefits than males after age 65.
Sadly, today’s wage gap began with deep rooted sexism. Jobs that are traditionally seen as “male-oriented” pay more than jobs that are traditionally associated with females. The AAUW’s research also indicated that when male-dominated fields receive multiple female hires, the overall wage in that profession decreases.
Women are also penalized for having families. The 2019 census data showed that mothers who are employed full-time earn 31% less than fathers who are employed the same amount. Maternity leave is virtually nonexistent, causing new mothers to use unpaid time off – which potentially puts financial strain on their families during a vulnerable time – just to recuperate after giving birth.
The census also confirmed that men outnumber women in degrees represented within the workforce, except for workers under thirty. Since the graduation rate of females has been increasing over the years, women aged 22-30 are the largest group of women in the workforce with at least a bachelor’s degree.
As employed males over the age of sixty begin to retire, this opens up more opportunities for advancement. Educated women are beginning to rise through the ranks, making today’s workforce a more inclusive environment and creating role models for students. Businesses with women in positions of power allow more female college graduates to begin their careers.
The latest population census data revealed that the largest group of workers in today’s workforce is men without college degrees. This further proves that women have to jump through more hoops than males, just to have a career – only to be rewarded with less pay. The wage gap, while smaller than it used to be, still haunts America’s workforce.
Women in America have faced centuries of sexism and disrespect. While it should not be the case, this reality is reflected in how women are paid. The wage gap in the United States is discriminatory, insulting and insinuates that males should be given a higher wage just because of their gender identity.
Graphic by Lizzy Talbert
Sources:
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/05/college-degree-widens-gender-earnings-gap.html
https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2020/02/Simple-Truth-Update-2019_v2-002.pdf
