Statistical data from numerous studies clearly demonstrates that women’s average wages are considerably lower than those of men in nearly all occupations and fields of activity. Despite the dynamic development of the modern business world, there is still a clear distinction between male-dominated and female-dominated industries, as "women continue to be highly overrepresented in clerical, service, and professional occupations, while men tend to be overrepresented in craft, operator, and laborer jobs" (qtd. in Catalyst.org). In conformity with statistical data provided in the "Fact Sheet: The Gender Wage Gap by Occupation 2014 and by Race and Ethnicity", women on the average earn 25-30% less in the majority of common male-dominated occupations, including construction and automotive service fields. It also should be noted that such significant wage gap does not depend on experience, operational expertise, and qualifications of employees. In actual fact, working under equal conditions and having similar qualifications, job experience and level of training, women still earn less than men.
It also should be taken into consideration that the gender wage gap is affected by factors of race and ethnicity. For instance, women of Hispanic descent have the lowest average earnings at the rate of $548 per week, as opposed to average earnings of white men at the level of $981 per week. In the meantime, there is an evident disproportion of Asian women occupied in the field of office and administrative support.
The most startling fact was that in occupations predominantly done by women, including maids and housekeeping cleaners or social workers, men still draw higher salaries than women do.
Works Cited
"Women in Male-Dominated Industries and Occupations." Catalyst. 20 Oct. 2015. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-male-dominated-industries-and-occupations>.
