What causes the pay gap between men and women?
In the 50s and 60s, there were a number of reasons: discrimination, low education rates, women should do more “feminine jobs”, women are seen as “less intelligent”, women should stay be homemakers…
Through feminist movements many of these factors have shrunk, except for one: women should raise children. In most developped countries, less than 20% of people think women should work full time when they have under school age children vs. 70% for men.
Even when women works full time, they spend 9 hrs more per week on childcare and housework than their male counterparts.
In most developped countries, less than 20% of people think women should work full time when they have under school age children vs. 70% for men
Both starts equally
A couple of men and women can start out the career the same way: same education, same experience and same qualification. However once they have children, someone has to be at home. So he is likely to get promoted. She, on the other hand, has to turn down assignments, say no to travels, maybe work part-time. 10 years down the road he has made it to an executive while she hasn’t. From that time onwards. earning and career potential will keep diverging.
This is the real cause of the pay gap.
The data shows us the pay gap is not so much of being a women but being a #mom.
Now we know that giving women more maternity leaves will only help marginally as it enforces the same issue.
So what can we do instead?
Starting from Iceland 20 years ago, Nordic countries started “take or lose it” paternity leaves for dads. This started a cultural shift: it became more natural that both women and men take care of children.
In terms of paternity leave, Norway has 15 weeks. In comparison, Singapore has 2 weeks. My husband had 1 week, as our daughter is not a Singaporean.
I hope that in my life time, countries and corporations will make this change. That this shall be a norm and not an exception. And that both will experience the joy childcare AND a fulfilled career can bring.
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