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02/07/2003
Men paid a fifth more than women: survey
A study by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), to mark the 75th anniversary of women winning the vote, has found that women are being paid on average around a fifth less than their male counterparts.
The EOC said that there was now a 19% gap between the hourly rate of pay of women and men - and those working part-time earn 41% less per hour than full-time men. Also, the average woman in retirement will have an income just over half that of a similar aged man
Factors which were found to contribute to the pay gap include the segregation of women in low paid occupations and the fact that women have greater family responsibilities than men. This means they are particularly likely to have to take low paid part-time jobs in order to balance work and family.
The research also found that men are taking an increasingly active role in bringing up children – and in general, traditional stereotypes of male and female roles "are breaking down".
However, when in a couple women generally retain the key responsibility for childcare which "limits their opportunity to realise their potential at work".
Often individuals were resigned to inequality – seeing it as a ‘private issue’ they can do little about, or fearing being seen as a ‘trouble-maker’, according to the study.
"Overall, the problems are more subtle and complex than 75 years ago but still very real. People’s choices, although wider, are still constrained by barriers it is hard for individuals to tackle alone," said the EOC.
Following the report, the EOC has called for more equality in pay and pensions; the benefits system; fair treatment at work; and equal choice through the removal of stereotypes about ‘traditional’ roles.
(GMcG)
The EOC said that there was now a 19% gap between the hourly rate of pay of women and men - and those working part-time earn 41% less per hour than full-time men. Also, the average woman in retirement will have an income just over half that of a similar aged man
Factors which were found to contribute to the pay gap include the segregation of women in low paid occupations and the fact that women have greater family responsibilities than men. This means they are particularly likely to have to take low paid part-time jobs in order to balance work and family.
The research also found that men are taking an increasingly active role in bringing up children – and in general, traditional stereotypes of male and female roles "are breaking down".
However, when in a couple women generally retain the key responsibility for childcare which "limits their opportunity to realise their potential at work".
Often individuals were resigned to inequality – seeing it as a ‘private issue’ they can do little about, or fearing being seen as a ‘trouble-maker’, according to the study.
"Overall, the problems are more subtle and complex than 75 years ago but still very real. People’s choices, although wider, are still constrained by barriers it is hard for individuals to tackle alone," said the EOC.
Following the report, the EOC has called for more equality in pay and pensions; the benefits system; fair treatment at work; and equal choice through the removal of stereotypes about ‘traditional’ roles.
(GMcG)
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