Photo: Cultura/REX USA.
First, for the good news: According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, the pay gap between American millennial women and men is decreasing. Now, the bad news: It’s still not equal. And, females still encounter gender inequality in the workplace. The study reveals that millennial ladies (who are 32 or younger) make 93% of what their male counterparts earn, the highest female-to-male pay ratio in American history. Women are also more likely to go to college these days, which helps them get better jobs and earn more money.
Of course, 93% is still not 100% — and the gender gap will only widen as these women age and begin to have families, which is when they typically reduce their at-work hours. According to the study, young American women also feel undervalued. About 75% of the participants surveyed believe that more should be done to promote workplace gender equality and 15% say they’ve experienced gender discrimination. (Which is a lot, considering these ladies haven’t spent a significant length of time in the workforce.)
Women are also still underrepresented in higher positions, although that might be by choice, according to Pew. Researchers found that 34% of those surveyed said they're not interested in becoming a top-level manager or boss, compared with 24% of young men. But, it's worth noting the survey also queried participants who've reduced their working hours in order to care for family members, and 94% reported being happy with their decision.
Regardless of whether or not a woman dreams of being a CEO, she still deserves to earn the same paycheck as her male coworker. While the equal pay trend for twenty- and thirtysomething ladies is definitely on the upswing, there's certainly room for improvement. Here's hoping we can keep that positive momentum going for the next generation.
(The Guardian)