This paper focuses on the factors that influence societal engagement on the widespread gender pay gap. The work presents an overview of the problem, its broad consequences for the public and national economy, and the factors such as biases and assumptions that contribute in one way or another to the public perception of the problem. Public awareness and engagement regarding the issue still need to be improved due to communication barriers. This paper presents recommendations for addressing and solving this issue to promote an unbiased discussion and practical cooperation on the gender pay gap problem.
The gender-related payment gap is persistent nationwide and worldwide, affecting the lives of billions directly and indirectly. The perception of this issue by the wider outsider public has been historically hindered due to cultural and sociopolitical biases prevalent in most societies for centuries (Brynin et al., 2017). However, the ongoing development of social media, communication, and societal awareness provide the medium for an exhaustive discussion on the topic. A payment gap is relevant not only in the context of gender but is also associated with age, ethnicity, and disabilities (Miller & Vagins, 2018). Single working mothers are especially vulnerable to the hardships associated with low pay due to the additional duty of care for adolescents. Those familiar with the issue often assume that the gender pay gap only affects an insignificant number of women and that its influence is contained in that demographic. However, addressing the gender pay gap on a systemic level would positively reflect on the well-being of families regardless of their structure while also benefiting the economy. Providing equal pay to women would increase the national budget income by $513 billion yearly (Milli et al., 2017). The ethical and economical factors mentioned above apply to a wide demographic range. It is, therefore, a solid basis for introducing the issue to the public and engaging them in the joint search for and implementation of solutions. Societal awareness and active engagement in eliminating the gender pay gap benefit society on multiple levels: ethical, cultural, and economical.
While the issue’s relevance is apparent, a lack of awareness and interest in the gender pay gap is persistent. The primary obstacle to wider audience awareness and engagement is a combination of consistent biases arising from a systemic ignoring of the issue, unclear and controversial results of some studies on the topic, and the cultural framework of modern society (Salias & Bagni, 2017). These biases, often unconscious, prevent the outsiders from becoming open to the discussion and critical analysis of the available data. On the other hand, the insiders often lack a wide view of the problem and may not realize their discriminated position. Deep and comprehensive research on the topic providing easily approachable and interpretative results is necessary to create an effective, engaging model and to communicate the importance of the gender pay gap problem more effectively.
The expected outcome of a more comprehensive public engagement strategy is to inform the broader audience about the effects of gender-based pay inequality on society. This perspective is often missing from the discussion, and introducing it may increase the public demand for changes in relevant economic and legal policies. A broad discussion involving both emics and etics is vital for developing effective communication and cooperation on a joint search for potential solutions for the pay gap issue and is equally essential for their gradual implementation.
References
Brynin, M. (2017). The gender pay gap. Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Web.
Miller, K., & Vagni D. J. (2018). The simple truth about the gender gap. American Association of University Women. Web.
Milli, J., Huang, Y., Hartmann, H., & Hayes, J. (2017). The impact of equal pay on poverty and the economy. Washington: Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Web.
Salias, P. C., Bagni, C. (2017) Gender equality from a European perspective: Myth and reality, Neuron, 96(4), 721–729.