Gender gap: what it is and how to combat it in companies

When we talk about the gender gap in the workplace, the first thing that comes to mind is unequal pay, but this is only one of the consequences of this socio-labor obstacle, as the gender gap implies inequality in many more aspects that we will discuss in this post.

Women not only continue to earn less per hour in many companies, but they also perform more unpaid work, have more part-time contracts, and are more likely to be unemployed than men. All of this means that the difference in overall income between men and women is more than 28% in the European Union. 

What does the gender gap in the workplace consist of?

The concept of the gender gap refers to the inequality that still exists in the workplace between men and women solely because of their condition. While men have more facilities to access employment opportunities, grow within the company, take executive positions, or simply get paid more for similar work; women constantly need to demonstrate that they are capable of taking on certain responsibilities to be taken seriously. Furthermore, women need to give up many other facets of their lives, such as motherhood or work-life balance, to have the same opportunities as their male colleagues, who, of course, also have, or should have, the same tasks in their private lives.

That is, the gender gap is based on very old and deep-rooted concepts of what a woman is, attributing to her many conditions incompatible with her professional growth.

What is the origin of the gender gap?

The origin of the gender gap is totally cultural. It has always been understood that the main role of women is to procreate and keep afloat everything that is the private sphere of life, only being able to work outside the home in case this does not hinder the tasks typical of their gender. That is, culturally, a woman's priority is to be in charge of the house, and any type of professional or personal growth is secondary.

On the other hand, when women have managed to find time to try to work outside the home, we run into part-time employment, where it is clearly seen that women hold more than half of the contracts. Once again, women are forced to reduce their working hours to attend to the home.

What are the main reasons causing the gender gap?

But the causes of the gender gap are not only cultural, and despite being in the 21st Century, the reasons causing inequality between men and women at work have not changed much. Being a woman entails a series of aspects that, even today, are still seen as an obstacle for many companies, such as motherhood or the glass ceiling, and many others like these:

1. Discrimination in the workplace: women often face discrimination in accessing quality jobs, professional promotion, salaries, and working conditions. The persistence of gender stereotypes and traditional roles influence the assignment of roles and responsibilities at work.
2. Wage gap: the wage gap should not be confused with the gender gap, as the difference in salaries between men and women is one of the causes of the gender gap. Despite the existence of laws that guarantee equal pay, a wage gap between men and women persists in Spain. Women tend to receive lower remuneration for performing the same work or tasks of equal value.
3. Unequal division of domestic work and family care: women often assume a disproportionate burden of domestic responsibilities and the care of children and dependent relatives. This unequal division limits their participation in the labor field and hinders their professional progress.
4. Gender stereotypes and traditional roles: deep-rooted gender stereotypes in society assign specific roles and behaviors to men and women. These expectations limit women's opportunities and development options, especially in fields traditionally considered masculine.
5. Barriers in education and training: although progress has been made in educational equality, and all students have the same opportunities to access the career they desire, inequalities still exist in the choice of careers and areas of study. Women are in the minority in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
6. Gender violence: violence against women is a serious manifestation of inequality and contributes to perpetuating the gender gap. Situations of violence and the fear of it can limit women's autonomy and participation in different areas of society.

What measures are being taken in companies to end inequality between men and women?

Especially over the last decade, the issue of the gender gap has been very hot in society and for this reason, many companies have undertaken their own equality projects in which initiatives such as: anonymous application for positions of responsibility, implementation of inclusion programs, or the promotion of a company culture based on equality have been seen. However, as we want to be as accurate and objective as possible, below, we will talk about the mandatory measures.

The Royal Decree on equal pay is approved: which facilitates the identification of cases of salary discrimination through a set of transparency instruments, such as: a registry with information disaggregated by sex, professional classification, type of remuneration, and a company audit.

Corporate equality plans: from 2021, it became mandatory for all types of companies to have equality plans accessible to all workers. These include a diagnosis negotiated with social agents and cover everything from the personnel selection process and permanence in a company to leaving the job.

We hope that this post has made the concept of the gender gap clearer to you and that, from now on, you know how to identify it in your environment. If you want to know more about equality, personal development, business trends, professional growth, and innovation, don't miss anything from Educa.Pro. We'll be waiting for you!