It is no secret that women are way more likely to face discrimination at work because of their gender. From getting paid less for doing the same job to being passed over for the most important assignments, there are numerous ways in which women are being discriminated against in work because of their gender.
Roughly four in every ten working women say that they have experienced some form of gender discrimination at work, according to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center. According to the survey, 25% said that they earned less than someone doing the same job, and 23% were treated as if they were incompetent.
WDO calls for more solid policies and steps to bridge that gap and make sure that no woman faces gender discrimination at work in any shape or form. In order to put an end to gender discrimination at work, it is important to understand and be aware of the different ways women face this discrimination.
In addition to raising awareness on what a huge portion of working women have to go through, this helps women identify that they’re being discriminated against and helps in holding the management accountable for this discrimination.
Here are 5 ways women are discriminated against in the workplace:
- Getting paid less for the same job and responsibilities than a man.
- Excluded from important meetings and tasks.
- Getting fired or demoted due to pregnancy.
- Being treated as if they’re incompetent because of their gender.
- All forms of sexual harassment, from inappropriate jokes to non-consensual touching.
After identifying different ways in which women face discrimination at work because of their gender, it is time to identify ways to combat these forms of discrimination. Supporting women to achieve their full potential and breaking the unnecessary obstacles they have to go through at work is good for women, businesses, the economy, and society as a whole.
Here are 5 ways to combat discrimination against women at work:
- Implementing a gender-neutral hiring process.
- Reviewing and standardizing salaries to address the gender pay gap.
- Ensuring representation of women in senior positions.
- Educating employees on unconscious bias.
- Creating a clear policy on discrimination.
We hope that more managers and decision-makers choose to follow these practices and more, in a bid to fight gender discrimination in the workplace. Putting an end to these illegal practices is crucial, and WDO is proud to be taking part in this fight.
