The article ‘The more educated, the wider the gender pay gap’ (June 12) emphasised the persisting inequality in salaries between males and females, which exists even more markedly among those having tertiary education. A few points need stressing.
Firstly, while it is an accepted fact that tertiary education almost invariably increases the earning power of both males and females, it is disappointing to note that the gender gap actually becomes more pronounced.
It is becoming clear that the choice of subjects studied is paramount. This choice is often determined as early as in secondary school and often determines one’s future career.
The lack of suitably-qualified inspired teachers is often adduced as a reason why students avoid science subjects.
It is also true that more women are now attending university than males. Women tend to study subjects, mainly humanities, to which they are attracted rather than STEM subjects, business, accounting, IT, etc., which are more often chosen by male students and which are more likely to attract a good salary.
There is a tendency for women to be attracted to professions like teaching and health and while lip-service is poured on these professions, often described as noble and essential, which indeed they are, they do not seem to attract salaries commensurate with their importance to society.
It is also a fact that careers in women are often interrupted through pregnancy and even child-rearing – work that still predominantly falls on women. This certainly interferes with the smooth ascent up the employment scale and results in a gender gap in salaries and an even more serious difference in eventual retirement benefits.
Employer-related bias, unconscious or otherwise, certainly is alive and well. For instance, it is well established that auditions for selection of musicians are nowadays carried out behind a screen so that the judges are not aware of the gender of the performer. This practice accepts the reality of bias in such situations and efforts are made to exclude it.
It is not easy to find such easy solutions to overcome the danger of bias in most other interview situations.
It will take more than a screen to prevent politically-motivated gender discrimination.