Writers: Abbie Geering, Mariana Andrade
Studies have shown that women earn less than men, women participate less in the labor market, there is a lack of women in certain career fields, and unpaid care if largely done by women. Economic empowerment places value on people being able to take control of their lives, emphasizing their skills and knowledge, self-confidence, and contributions. In order to increase women’s economic empowerment, women need to be rewarded in the labor market as much as men, have access to jobs in line with their skills, make decisions about their lives, and be able to make the most of their abilities. In this post, we’ll look at the differences in income, unpaid domestic work, and how and what resources should be provided to help in women’s economic empowerment.
1. Income
From a study done in Columbia done from 2010 to 2017, the difference between women and men who didn’t have their own income was higher for women by about 15 to 20%. For women who do have their own income and employment, there is the issue of the gender wage gap. Women make only 60 to 75% of what men do. Women that make less, often don’t know they do, which only contributes to the gap more. When just beginning, salaries are very similar between men and women. But, the gap widens overtime because of salary trajectories or interviewees being asked about their last salary. The wage gap is even bigger for men and women with children, than those without. Polices that largely hurt low income communities, are more likely to be hurting women. Yet, of the richest women in Columbia, they still have $525 million less than men, which goes to show that no woman is out of reach from these effects.
Part of having a decent workplace is equal pay, making it necessary to close the gender wage gap to level the field. There’s already some examples around the world for initiatives being set to combat this problem. In the U.S., Massachusetts approved a law in 2018 that promotes salary transparency and prohibits companies from asking about previous salaries. This ensures salaries are based on a person’s worth, instead of their history. Companies in the UK also have to be very transparent and publish the pay gap between their employees annually.
2. Unpaid Domestic Care Work
This is work, widely done by women, that goes unpaid and unrecognized, even though it takes a lot of time and hard work. It can include jobs like home management; child, elder, or disabled care; and fuel collection. Women complete an overwhelming amount of domestic care work compared to men. This happens throughout education, wealth, or marriage and family status. The 16 hours spent everyday on unpaid work, contributes 10 to 39% of gross domestic product. Because of this, women have less time for leisure and personal activities, with limitations on paid job opportunities for those looking to work. There’s also evidence that goes against the idea that some women rather stay at home than work. Statistics show that women do want to participate in the labor market, as on average they receive more years of education, more women enroll in higher education, and have less dropouts than men.
In countries that have implemented policies to free up women’s time from domestic work, the response was an increase in women’s participation in the labor market. This burden placed on women can be improved by increasing economical empowerment. Recognizing domestic labor as work, balancing domestic labor between genders, flexible work arrangements for all, increased paternity leave and encouraging cultural changes can help to do this.
3. Providing Resources
There are 104 countries that have at least one law interfering with economic opportunities for women. Few have bank accounts and take out loans. If they do, men in some countries can still decide how funds are used or need a male family members approval to do so. The lack of financial education women can access affects the amount of finical services available to them. For women in the work field, they have less access to credit, machinery, and technical advice than men.
Increasing female labor, access to social protections, reducing unemployment and wage gaps, providing safe places of work, better distribution of unpaid labor, providing child and paid maternity leave, and promoting cultural changes should all be focused on to increase women’s empowerment. Having access to childcare, such as no cost for children not in school, would especially help low income women. We can see how these efforts can help the economy as a 2% investment in childcare will generate 6% growth. Women entrepreneurs are also typically underfunded and underserved, so investing and supporting female owned businesses and endeavors can help boost this. Giving credit cards, bank accounts, savings, insurance, financial literacy programs, improved gender-segregated data can help create economic opportunities for women.
There are many struggles that women face which end up reducing their space in the economy. However, there are many ways that everyone can help reduce these problems, big and small.
“If you don't provide women with adequate access to healthcare, education and employment, you lose at least half of your potential. So, gender equality and women's empowerment bring huge economic benefits”
-Michelle Bachelet-
(UN Women)
sources:
Comments