Amid petitions for gender equality and females working in many prior male-dominated markets, the gender pay gap is still very much existent. With all the progress that has been made in the past decade, one might wonder why this issue hasn’t been solved fully yet and why it is still a relevant topic. There are many factors that play into this, the pandemic being one of them, as it recently added another estimated 36 years to the World Economic Forum’s expected timeline of the pay gap closure. This means that, as of 2021, the global gender pay gap isn’t estimated to be gone for 136 years. Written below is a snippet of why this is so.

Genders Are Not Balanced Among Industries

Many of the top-paying industries still happen to be male-dominated, which significantly
contributes to this existing gap. Some of the highest-paying industries include investment
banking, portfolio management, sports teams, electronic computer manufacturing, and other
investment-related niches. When taking a closer look into these industries, it is clear to see that men make up the majority of their workforce. Many women choose to go into lower-paying
industries either because that is where their passion lies or because they have been led to
believe by society that they will not succeed in male-dominated industries. There are countless women out there who are actively defying these norms and making a place for themselves in these careers, but with these male-dominated industries being at the top of the pay scale, it significantly impacts the gender pay gap.

Lack of Support for Working Mothers

Balancing parenthood and a full-time job has been a relevant topic since women first began
entering the workforce. Despite parenting being a two-person job in most cases, corporations
often require the male to return to work immediately while the mother takes parental leave; at
least, this is the case in the United States. However, upon returning to the workplace, mothers
often are not given the flexibility or childcare options that support their new role, often leading to them finding a lower-paying job that will accommodate their needs. This ongoing issue
continues to lead to the gender pay gap, although more organizations are beginning to discuss
this topic to find more effective solutions.

Aside from these factored issues, gender bias is still an ongoing issue in many fields,
especially when men in senior positions are interviewing female candidates. Unfortunately, the
gender pay gap is even more prevalent for people of color. To support the ongoing efforts to
close the gender pay gap, consider donating to organizations like Equal Rights Advocates.