The late US Representative and female activist Bella Abzug spearheaded the launch of Women’s Equality Day in August 1971. It corresponded with the confirmation of the nineteenth amendment in August 1920 when women were granted voting rights. Its forty-third anniversary was recognized last month. Today we look back to see just how far we’ve come in establishing gender equality in the workplace. “There’s still more work to do” said President Obama on Women’s Equality Day 2014.
Wallet-Hub, a finance-focused website that delivers tools and information to consumers and small businesses to promote better practices, released data to coincide with this anniversary. Some findings were taken from the Global Gender Equality Scale, a report compiled by the World Economic Forum capturing the magnitude and scope of gender-based disparities. The 136 countries represented in the report make up ninety-three percent of the world’s population. Factors measured are economic participation, educational attainment, health/survival, and political empowerment. The United States placed 23 on its scale. Iceland, Finland and Norway took top honors. Sweden placed number four. Successful outcomes for Nordic Countries were partially due to shared childcare duties and equal distribution of labor in the home. Generous, state-mandated parental leave benefits played a significant role. Additional findings reveal that the United States ranks number 60 in female political empowerment and 67 in wage equality.
Equality for women in the United States varies from state to state. Hawaii and New York ranked number one and two for overall female equality. Utah and Wyoming placed last. California was number 12 and Nevada placed number 5.
ADDITIONAL FACTS AND FINDINGS FOR THE UNITED STATES:
· Women earn 77 cents for each male-earned dollar. (US Census Bureau of statistic based on annual wages.
· 52 percent of professionals are women; only 14.6 percent are executive officers.
· Women earn almost 60 percent of all undergraduate degrees, 60 percent of all masters’ degrees, 47 percent of law all degrees, 48 percent of all medical degrees and 37 percent of all MBA’s.
· Two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women.
· Male lawmakers outnumber women in every state
· One-third of the female workforce consists of minority women yet they hold only 11.9 percent of all professional positions.
· Women control 80 percent of spending but only 3 percent are top directors in creative advertising
The Center for American Progress recently reported that advancements for women have slowed since progress began during the early years of the women’s movement. According to Senior Fellow Judith Warner, “It’s now estimated that, at the current rate of change, it will take until 2085 for women to reach parity with men in leadership roles in our country.”
What accounts for these findings? Some argue it is lifestyle choices made by women themselves that holds them back. Others insist women are willing to accept less pay for more benefits, specifically paid time off. Experts weigh in with opinions of their own. Chad E. Forbes, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Delaware was asked, why women hold few top executive positions even though they constitute 52% of the professional workforce. “Men often may not be aware of bias, or even endorse the stereotypes that fortify it, but they are products of the socialization process…” he said. An experimental scenario illustrated his point. Two résumés were submitted to two employers, duplicates except for the names, one male, one female. “Both employers rated the male applicant more competent and hirable, and selected a higher starting salary…. “This speaks to the fact that even when all things are equal, men might receive a higher salary because of pre-existing stereotypes.”
Henry Drummond, Professor of Law at Lewis and Clark spoke of the wage gap. “Women experience pregnancies and bear children more often shouldering the burdens (and joys) of caring for children... More men are stepping up, but we still have miles to go in this slow process of cultural change.”
Julie A. Kmec, Sociology Professor, Washington State University says, “Women should recognize that much of what leads to the pay gap are practices and structures built into the fabric of workplaces that tend to benefit men and disadvantage women such as word of mouth referrals.”
Is there a silver lining for women? YES. They have a longer life expectancy after age 65. They also experience shorter PAID workdays.
The numbers speak for themselves and the conclusion is obvious, “There is still more work to do.”