Wage Gap of Women and Minorities

Wage Gap of Women and Minorities

By Ariel Niemela

      

Many wonder why women and people of other ethnical backgrounds are paid less than Caucasian men. Even men complain about the lower income their wives receive compared to everyone else. Currently, females are paid 78% of a white males’ income. Some women just play along with it, while other women argue that it is sexist. For Blacks and Hispanics, the wage gap is more severe. I must say that I too agree with these statements and that it is truly unfair and insulting, especially in the modern world of the 21st century.

            For years, even in the National Anthem, we claim our rights and equality as the people of the United States of America. Yet, it seems very hypocritical. We still hold our traditions, but only slightly so. In other words, we are still slightly sexist and racist. Only, it is not at all politically correct, and with that said, the media doesn’t make it obvious, nor does everyone else of the nation. For example, if a white man were to be having a conversation with a black man, he would talk differently with him than if he were to be speaking to another white man. In the South, Americans are still slightly stuck in their traditional way of life, whether people of America see it or not.

It is not just the choice of major that determines how much college students will earn once they graduate. It is simply the disparities based on gender and race. Women earn less than men in nearly all ethnic groups. A report confirms a stubborn gender-wage gap more than 40 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963; which made it illegal to pay women less than men working at the same job.

            Back in the 1950’s, women were only paid 60% on average compared to men even when working year round full time. Since the 1980’s, there has been improvement for the gender wage gap, but it hasn’t disappeared. Throughout the 80’s, even though it has improved, it was a little less consistent, so all in all, it remained at 60%. In the 90’s, it increased to 72%, and in 2000, 73%. Today, women are paid 80% of every dollar a Caucasian man is paid. This not only affects the female individual (who may be widowed or single), but the woman’s family and family income as well, as she tries to provide a good living for her children by herself. The poverty rate for females (13.8%) is higher than the rate for males (11.1%); almost 37.3 million Americans were living in poverty by the year 2007. Over 7.6 million families were in poverty. Families with children had a higher percentage of 15% in poverty in 2007. Families and households headed by a single woman/mother are most likely to be in poverty than other families and households. 28.3% were in poverty and 37% of female-headed families consisting of children were in poverty in 2007, and it increased due to the economic recession that followed.

So why is a woman’s income less than a man’s? Back in the old days, women used to drop out of the labor force for extended periods of time to bear children, which has changed a great deal over time, however the disruption has lowered the earnings women receive compared to men. It is the simple fact that women can bear children that makes their income lower and less valuable. This is a definite discrimination issue nationwide. Today, legislators provide only twelve weeks of unpaid leave, if pregnant. The income also depends on what occupations and industries women go into as well, which; generally it is women who take the secretary jobs than there are of men taking secretary jobs. Historically, women have entered the labor market taking the lowest paying jobs and doing the same work they did at home; cleaning, cooking, child care, etc., which interferes with their wage potential. Women are also paid less than men for even doing the same work. Women are more likely to be in low-paying jobs, and they often work fewer hours and have fewer job skills than men. It’s a traditional believe that men are more likely to work more and harder to provide food on the table than women can. To elaborate, it is still a man’s world.

The wage gap is even worse for women of different races other than Caucasian. Black women are paid 63 cents for every dollar paid to a white man, and Hispanic women earn 53 cents. Black men earn 75 cents and Hispanic men earn 62 cents on the dollar. When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, it became illegal for employers to discriminate based on race. Obviously, even in the modern world, there’s still something wrong here.

Families headed by single mothers lived in poverty (38%) due to the lack of equal income, compared with 18.7% of families headed by single fathers in 2007. African-American single moms, or Hispanic single mothers were a lot more likely than white or Asian single mothers to live in poverty, even though --- despite their ethnic backgrounds --- all families headed by single women lived in poverty.

A study also shows that in 2007, female high school graduates earned a weekly median wage of $512, compared to a weekly median wage of $689 by male high school graduates. College educated women earn 5% less the first year out of school than their male peers. A decade later, it evolved to 12%.

Throughout the country, fair pay is the number one issue for working women today. Women and people of other races are faced with pay discrimination at work every day. People who face these issues have fewer assets, and are far more likely to live in poverty. Many researchers have discovered disparities favoring white men in all industries.

Some say racial stereotypes still factor into hiring and salary decision-making. Others say it’s because minorities are believed to be more likely than whites to become first-generation college students. These assumptions are, of course, not certain, for it is not clear why this gap still exists.

Even though the Equal Pay Act was passed, it is difficult to enforce equal pay for equal work laws when the workplace is gender-segregated.  

In conclusion, women and minorities still do not have an exact response as to why this stubborn wage gap still continues to play in the 21st century, but it is easy to see that it is obviously still based on the old tradition of America and obvious discrimination.

Work Cited

"Mind the gender pay gap - it's unfair and sexist; Are women in the workplace worth [pounds

sterling]10,060 less than men? This pay disparity is unfair, sexist and something that needs to be addressed urgently, says Anne Francke of the Chartered Management Institute." TelegraphOnline 7 Nov. 2012. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

"Money, Income, and Poverty." Women in American Society. Melissa J. Doak. 2010 ed.

Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Plus Reference Series. Gale Student Resources In

Context.    Web. 28, Nov. 2012.

"National Committee on Pay Equity: Wage Gap Widens." US Newswire 1 Oct.

1999:1008273n0021. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

"Women in investor relations profession earn less than men, new report finds Gender pay

gap persists despite experience and seniority." PR Newswire 1 Nov. 2012.Gale

Student Resources In Context. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.