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Gender Pay Gap

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granjura Sat 27-Aug-16 16:08:18

many women choose not to be mothers- and many mothers choose to organise themselves- often as a couple- so that both can continue a career- some to the top level. But I agree society should support them more in achieving this.

How can it lose the prestige of a profession when women become top Consultants rather than secretaries, cleaners or nurses?
Did Marie Curie lose the prestige of medical research and medicine?

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Elegran Sat 27-Aug-16 14:40:46

Do you feel that the job you do/did is devalued because you do it and not a man, Gracesgran ? Surely you don't have such a low opinion of yourself?

Unless you are really Graces grandad - disguised as a granny - and have a low opinion of women?

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granjura Sat 27-Aug-16 14:28:20

"Getting women to enter male fields won't close the gender pay gap - those jobs just lose their prestige."

I find this statement outrageous and appalling. Would you care to perhaps explain a bit more how you feel this has 'a ring of truth' in it, please.

Do you mean that when women become Consultants instead of GPs- the position of Consultants loses prestige?

Or when women become Inspectors in the police- or Heads of Schools, or full Partners in their firm or business.

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Gracesgran Sat 27-Aug-16 13:41:43

I couldn't find a thread about this even though the Equalities Select Committee released their report in March and according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies women on average now earn 18 per cent less than men.

My reaction is not to be outraged - I probably would be but I don't think that has made any difference so far, but to wonder just what can be done now. The Ford's Dagenham machinists strike for equal pay for work of equal value was in 1968(!) and we have achieved this in many cases but obviously not overall.

I was prompted to ask your opinion because of the strap-line in an article in The New Statesman by Helen Lewis (sorry I can't find a link, perhaps someone else can). This says "Getting women to enter male fields won't close the gender pay gap - those jobs just lose their prestige." I felt this had a ring of truth and wondered what others think.

It does seem to be a mainly motherhood gap and I wonder too what can be done about that.

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