UK gender pay gap widens, according to new report

[ccharles000]

The Women and Work Commission have released a new report (PDF) with research and stats on the current gender pay gap as well as a call to action to work on the ground and address various problems that contribute to the gap.

According to their findings, while the pay gap has narrowed in the last 10 years, it has widened again since 2007. I like their suggestion for smaller, local approaches as well as policy changes:

The commission pointed to a failure of "small scale and sporadic" efforts to break down gender stereotypes in schools and urged the government to focus its efforts there.

"Often without even thinking about it, young girls can choose to role-play at being 'teachers' for example, while boys might choose 'builders,'" it said.

"This segregation is ingrained in our culture and has significant implications for the career choices that young men and women make and, in the long run, their future earnings."

It also said women often faced penalties because they take time out of the labour market to care for family members or work part-time in a bid to balance work and home responsibilities.

New laws would also be needed "to ensure that a step change actually takes place," it said.

Women in the UK currently earn, on average, 22.6 percent less than men. The gap for women who work part time is significantly larger, at a nearly 40 percent gap.

http://www.feministing.com/archives/016962.html