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Inequalities

 

            2A Three main inequalities exist in the labor force. Sex segregation, also called the sexual division of labor, is the clustering or men and women into different jobs, and different types of jobs. The sex pay gap is the basic statistic that men and women do not earn equal pay for equal work. For every US $1.00 a woman earns, a man earns $1.39 (38 Padavic and Reskin). Men are also more likely to have better benefits through their employer. These differences in monetary compensation add up over time, making the gap grow. Differential access to promotions and authority by sex is a long term meaning that discrimination occurs based on a person's sex, limiting their access to higher paying, higher power positions. Overall, "[m]en do not have a promotion advantage over women" (38 Padavic & Reskin). However, since men are generally in higher rank, higher paying jobs than women, a promotion can be exponentially more lucrative in both financial and authoritative aspects.
             These inequalities exist for a variety of reasons. Historical stereotypes and negative views of women have perpetuated sex segregation in the workplace. Men have always been seen as the strong, dominant, intelligent half and are obviously best qualified for skilled labor and other forms of paid work out side of the home. Women have been seen as the baby-makers, as less able to hone skills and generally as the less intelligent sex and therefore should stay in the home and care for the domestic work of the family. These stereotypes make it clear why the highest paid and highest power positions are held by men while women are better suited at less intellectually and physically demanding jobs, translating into less money and status.
             Since men have traditionally been sees as the breadwinners, and are assumed to be taking care of their family's financial needs, women are not seen as having to work. If a women chooses to work, it must be for extra money to be spent on non-essentials - beyond the basic needs of the family.


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