According to research, about 42% of women have experienced workplace gender discrimination, while only 22% of men made the same claims. It’s not very surprising for women as they encounter many strange things at work daily.
A less qualified man gets the job only because the client is ‘uncomfortable’ working with a woman. A man with an average performance gets a promotion, while the woman with better work still needs time (classic). At work, a woman has to look presentable or wear her hair a certain way. To look more ladylike, she has to smile more or be less aggressive (eyes-rolled!).
Workplace Gender Discrimination — Explained
Gender discrimination involves treating a person differently because of their gender. Any biases that a person experiences at work due to their gender entail workplace gender discrimination. Many countries are promoting equal rights and fair treatment of every gender.
One of the reasons that more female workers experience inequality is due to gender stereotypes. Women have some roles to perform, defined since Eve (I guess!).
The woman of the house is a caretaker, mother, cook, cleaner and maid (perhaps!), embedded deeply in society and culture. That’s why they are unaccepted and unappreciated at work and, only some take on the leadership role.
Common Examples of Workplace Gender Discrimination
The survey by Pew Research Center divides workplace gender discrimination into eight categories — all curated while taking into account personal experiences of women across different levels of education.
The result shows around 57% of working women with a postgraduate degree claimed to experience discrimination at work. Meanwhile, 40% of women with a bachelor’s degree and 39% having less education made the same claims.
Several working women with postgraduate degrees (29%) have experienced repeated/small slights at work. Similarly, 18% of women with a bachelor’s degree and 12% with less education recalled experiencing it.
The result also shows men earn more than women doing the same job, get more challenging assignments, and feel more competent at work. These disparities are more common for postgraduates and graduates working women than less-educated ones.
Likewise, 27% of post-graduated women have complained to receive less support from senior management than a man. Correspondingly 11% of those with a bachelor’s degree and 13 % with no college education asserted the same. The pattern is consistent for other instances like being denied a job and promotion and feeling secluded at work.
The survey also indicates that working women encounter gender discrimination based on their ethnicity too. Around 53% of employed black women have experienced at least one form of gender discrimination. That is more than what Hispanic and white women have endured at work.
Workplace Gender Discrimination & Effects on an Individual
Discrimination of any kind is toxic. It makes one feel alone with low self-esteem and shatters one’s confidence. Ultimately it affects the productivity and mental health of the individual. So there is a need to listen to people dealing with this negativity at their work.
Eradicating Workplace Gender Discrimination
“It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two set of opposing ideals”, Emma Watson
There is vast support for gender equality from around the world. Many countries are working to reduce the gender gap. Managers and other people with authority can too establish rules to deter gender discrimination. Here is what they can do:
- Punish every sort of harassment of sexual or verbal nature.
- Establish a zero-tolerance policy for gender discrimination (or any discrimination).
- Hire people based on their talent, not gender.
- Use the individual’s performances as a standard for the raises, bonuses, growth opportunities, assignments allocations, and fringe benefits.
- Provide support to women workers to take on leadership roles.
- Provide gender discrimination awareness training and education.
Companies should provide an environment that fosters positivity and discourage any form of discrimination that affects the well-being of any employee of any gender.
