StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere - Coursework Example

Cite this document
Summary
As the paper "Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere" outlines, the social movements that began in the early 19th century have a great deal left to accomplish. For instance, the reader can consider the case of wage disparity as it relates to men and women in the workforce…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.2% of users find it useful
Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere"

Introduction: There is no question that a lot of progress has been made over the past several decades concerning. Part of this progress was the way in which minorities have been included within society, integrated in the workforce, and the way in which feminism has improved the overall outlook and respect that women receive. It is still obvious that the social movements that began in the early 19th century have a great deal left to accomplish. For instance, the reader can consider the case of wage disparity as it relates to men and women in the workforce. Background: Regardless of the measurement that is used, women typically make between 20 and 30% less on each and every pound; as compared to a man. Even though great progress has been made, this particular statistic is one which is ultimately quite stubborn and has proven difficult to engage. Although it is obvious that one or two methods might not be enough to fix this problem, it is the view of this student that seeking to promote the changes that will be considered within this brief analysis will be extraordinarily useful in helping to address the broader issue. However, these recommendations will not be totally sufficient to ending the gender gap in wages. Accordingly, the two approaches that will be put forward are as follows: extending family leave to men and discontinuing wage secrecy. Presentation of Option 1: Extending Family Leave Firstly, one of the reasons for why there continues to be a gender gap in wages has to do with the fact that women are expected, at least at some point in their life, to become pregnant. Naturally, this is a very sexist interpretation; however, firms that are specifically interested in profit maximization and utilizing the full potential of the employees time consider this as a relevant factor when they hire and settled upon a salary for a female employee. These firms are responsible for providing the necessary resources to the employee; both for those employees that are on leave as well as the necessary additional resources that the firm will require during the time in which she is out on maternity leave (Saari, 2012). The difference that exists in this case has to do with the fact that firms realize that this is a costly process. This causes many firms, at least within the past, to prefer male employees due to the fact that they would not have the potential of incurring the same costs as the females. Whereas it is absolutely true that these costs cannot go away, a more appropriate level of response would be to recognize this inherent differential that exists between male and female employees and require that firms throughout the system extend maternity benefits/leave to male employees as well. As such, the level to which a particular firm might seek to employ men at a higher salary than women would be reduced drastically. Comparison and Consideration of Option 1: A Determination of Cost and Social Acceptance: From the cost standpoint, employers will of course be hesitant to engage this approach due to the fact that it will more than double the overall amount of money that they must provide with regards to benefits and leave for their employees (XIU & GUNDERSON, 2013). The reason that this number will double has to do with the truth that there are still warm in the workforce as compared to women. Additionally, a further issue that must be understood with regards to the overall potential success for such a plan is with respect to the level of social acceptance that can be affected. Even though such a plan has not ever been implemented, it is expected that most stakeholders in society would welcome this change due to the fact that it represents a more fair and equitable approach to family time and the manner through which the sexes are understood. Whereas it is true that there will of course be individuals that will fight against this extension as inherently unfair, due to the fact that it is the woman who is ultimately responsible for giving birth, most individuals within society will welcome the equality that such a change provides. Presentation of Option 2: Discontinuing Wage Secrecy Another effective approach that this particular analysis will put forward is discontinuing wage secrecy. Although many legal and ethical issues surround this, the fact of the matter is that wage secrecy contributes to the degree and extent to which individuals within society remain unaware of the unethical behavior that exists with regards to the gender gap (Arnania-Kepuladze, 2012). As has been noted previously within this analysis, women are invariably paid several percentage points lower than the average male within any given profession. Within such an understanding, this differential is not widely known to stakeholders within a particular organization or firm due to the fact that wage secrecy restricts the ultimate amount of knowledge that they are privy to. Accordingly, by negating this requirement and allowing each and every individual within a firm to be completely and fully aware of the overall level of money that an individual is burning, the potential for equity and fairness with respect to the gender gap is inherently maximized. Comparison and Consideration of Option 2: A Determination of Cost and Social Acceptance: With respect to a determination of cost of social acceptance for this proposition, it must be understood that the overall cost will be relatively low for the overall economy as well as the individual firm/organization in question. However, the legal concerns that could be generated as a result of such a posture are extreme. By maximizing the overall level of liability and the potential for lawsuits of each and every variety, firms would find themselves in a less economically advantageous position as a direct result of this change. Moreover, with respect to the overall level of social acceptance, it can further be stated that this will be somewhat different as compared to the prior recommendation that was given within the analysis. The underlying reason for the muted level of social acceptance has to do with the fact that many individuals will not be favorable to having their wage information out for display; both with respect to their fellow coworkers and with respect to all other individuals within society (Zhu, 2010). As a means of encouraging a level of ethics and fairness, it would be the recommendation of this analysis that the end of the way in secrecy would only apply within the specific firm or organization in question. As such, individuals within society would not be privy to the information regarding wages of specific employees within different sectors. The added benefit that this will provide is that it can increase the overall fairness of such an approach and reduce the level of predatory headhunting that would otherwise take place if such legislation were engaged. Conclusion: From the analysis that is been conducted, it is clear and apparent that there remains a great deal of legislative potential with respect to increasing the diversity within the workforce. Moreover, from the two proposals that have been put forward, the overall level of cost and social acceptance is not so extreme that individuals within society would outright refuse to engage these considerations at all. By focusing specifically upon the recommendations that provide the least level of drawbacks, it is the hope of this analyst that the reader will come to a more informed understanding with respect to relevant actions that can be taken within the current framework that could promote gender parity with regards to wages. Bibliography Arnania-Kepuladze, T 2012, DISPARITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT SPHERE: THE MEASUREMENT OF PAY GENDER DISPROPORTION, Problems Of Management In The 21St Century, 3, pp. 20-25, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 March 2014. Saari, M 2013, Promoting Gender Equality without a Gender Perspective: Problem Representations of Equal Pay in Finland,Gender, Work & Organization, 20, 1, pp. 36-55, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 March 2014. XIU, L, & GUNDERSON, M 2013, GENDER EARNINGS DIFFERENCES IN CHINA: BASE PAY, PERFORMANCE PAY, AND TOTAL PAY, Contemporary Economic Policy, 31, 1, pp. 235-254, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 March 2014. Zhu, W 2010, UNDERSTANDING THE GENDER PAY GAP: WHATS COMPETITION GOT TO DO WITH IT? Industrial & Labor Relations Review, 63, 4, pp. 681-698, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 March 2014. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere Coursework, n.d.)
Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere Coursework. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1813031-how-to-reduce-the-gender-gap-in-pay-report
(Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere Coursework)
Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere Coursework. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1813031-how-to-reduce-the-gender-gap-in-pay-report.
“Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere Coursework”. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1813031-how-to-reduce-the-gender-gap-in-pay-report.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Gender Wage Disparity in the Employment Sphere

Gender Inequality in Russia

hellip; Another vital area in which women in Russia are discriminated against has to do with wage levels/material gains from education.... Mezentseva notes that although women trail behind men concerning wage levels in all countries, the rise in educational levels is narrowing this gap in virtually all countries.... This essay "gender Inequality in Russia" discusses various different shapes based on particular socio-historical contexts, it always had to do with whether people should deem the desire of a woman to self-actualize beyond family as natural, whether women and men should equally take part in public life....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Feminization of poverty. my title is tumbling in the dark or endless pain

The feminization of poverty is mainly caused by some factors like their social status, lower literacy rate and lower rate of employment.... Even in terms of wages, lot of disparity exists between the men and women reflecting the feminization of poverty.... hellip; Several factors influence poverty in our society and gender is one of them.... Even if in a developed nation like USA, if this position exists, it only confirms the fact that the female gender is proportionate with the extent of poverty which is other wise known as feminization of poverty....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Gender Disparity in Employment

This paper will try to tackle the two dominant causes of gender disparity in the social sphere which are patriarchal systems, and gender discrimination.... Topic: Gender disparity in Employment Student: Course: Date: Professor: Introduction Gender disparity and inequality in the labor market is a global problem that has persisted even after a spirited fight to annul it.... It has always been thought that the starting point in addressing gender inequality would be looking at the factors that can bring about gender parity in labor such as gender wage gap....
3 Pages (750 words) Research Paper

EMPLOYMENT LAW(EQUAL PAY LAWS-ARE THE ADEQUATE

20 Pages (5000 words) Essay

Feminism and World War II in England

Although women achieved the right of voting and gained majority of the rights in the legal world in England, they were many areas where women were treated as inferior gender and were negated of equal rights and opportunities as men.... 2 However, the meanings of feminism in England extended beyond the campaign for suffrage and encompass such aspects as the segregation and stigmatization of women's gender roles, celebration of women's uniqueness and differences, socio-economic and cultural issues of women, equal rights for women, education disparities of women, equality of opportunities and equal wages, antimilitarism and pacific movements, women emancipation movements, and so on....
18 Pages (4500 words) Research Paper

Affection Of Different Identity Categories

This socialization promotes gender disparity in the society.... One becomes an adult knowing that their place is at home and not in the public sphere.... The triple roles for women limit their participation in the public sphere.... It further affects the level of employment for women since they cannot freely choose their career.... An essay "Affection Of Different Identity Categories " describes how gender has made an impact in the community set up....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Competition in the Labor Market

An informal survey on the fast food restaurants located in Virginia proved that significant wage disparity existed among workers performing the same job.... This project "Competition in the Labor Market" aims to discuss the macroeconomic factors that determine the equilibrium wages in the labor market....
7 Pages (1750 words) Term Paper

Gender Inequality in Russia

The paper "gender Inequality in Russia" delves into the issue of gender inequality in Russia as far as the subject of women and men inequality or equality is a matter looking back on a lengthy history.... hellip; Giddens defines gender inequality as the differences in status, prestige, and power that men and women have in societies, collectivities, and groups.... This implies that the expenditure of budget money that the federal government allocates for education has progressively become gender asymmetric, and not in women's favor....
8 Pages (2000 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us