Employers may assume that the candidate must have certain stereotypically masculine characteristics to succeed on the job. Female candidates may be perceived as having stereotypically feminine characteristics, even if they are actually assertive and independent. Access discrimination often operates for both women and men when they apply for “gender-inappropriate” jobs. In general, employers and career placement consultants select men for jobs when most of the current employees are male, and they select women when most of the employees are female.
· Employers often discriminate against women candidates who are assertive, rather than feminine, because some believe strong assertive women are not socially skilled; however, women are also often thought to be peacekeepers, and, unfortunately, that skill does not help them in regards to salary either. Employers who have strong gender stereotypes are more likely to demonstrate access discrimination. In general, supervisors who endorse traditional roles tend to avoid hiring women. Also, people who claim to be strongly religious tend to have negative attitudes toward employed women.
Gender discrimination is also not a priority for policymakers at the federal level. If more women were involved in policymaking, the wage gap would likely receive more attention, but getting women into office has been a slow process. The number of women in Congress is far from proportional to the country's female population.
Women are less likely than men to negotiate a higher salary, which is another reason why men earn more than women before women leave the job force. Add in the current economy, where jobs for recent graduates are scarce, and many women are just happy to have a job offer.
The choice of major from women also plays a role in salary difference. Women traditionally avoid math and science and instead choose English and other liberal arts degrees, which essentially pays less.
Even among women who choose hard science and math majors, they generally gravitate to nurturing jobs. The most educated of women, will move toward the teaching and nursing fields, whereas men with comparable education become business executives, scientists, doctors and lawyers jobs that pay significantly more.
Petroleum engineering majors, are 100% male-dominated, whereas women account for 97% of early childhood education majors. The average petroleum engineer’s yearly salary is around $120,000. The average preschool teacher makes about $35,000.
· Employers often discriminate against women candidates who are assertive, rather than feminine, because some believe strong assertive women are not socially skilled; however, women are also often thought to be peacekeepers, and, unfortunately, that skill does not help them in regards to salary either. Employers who have strong gender stereotypes are more likely to demonstrate access discrimination. In general, supervisors who endorse traditional roles tend to avoid hiring women. Also, people who claim to be strongly religious tend to have negative attitudes toward employed women.
Gender discrimination is also not a priority for policymakers at the federal level. If more women were involved in policymaking, the wage gap would likely receive more attention, but getting women into office has been a slow process. The number of women in Congress is far from proportional to the country's female population.
Women are less likely than men to negotiate a higher salary, which is another reason why men earn more than women before women leave the job force. Add in the current economy, where jobs for recent graduates are scarce, and many women are just happy to have a job offer.
The choice of major from women also plays a role in salary difference. Women traditionally avoid math and science and instead choose English and other liberal arts degrees, which essentially pays less.
Even among women who choose hard science and math majors, they generally gravitate to nurturing jobs. The most educated of women, will move toward the teaching and nursing fields, whereas men with comparable education become business executives, scientists, doctors and lawyers jobs that pay significantly more.
Petroleum engineering majors, are 100% male-dominated, whereas women account for 97% of early childhood education majors. The average petroleum engineer’s yearly salary is around $120,000. The average preschool teacher makes about $35,000.