Oct. 31, 2023

Unveiling the Ongoing Battle: Women and the Gender Pay Gap

Discrimination and bias are just the scratch of the surface when deriving the reasoning behind the gender pay gap. By: Wee Yan Ling

Since the dawn of time, women’s work has been undermined and undervalued and female-dominated industries tend to offer low wages. The division still continues today and women persist in standing against a long-standing devaluation of professions predominantly held by females while simultaneously facing hurdles when trying to clinch roles traditionally dominated by men. 

In the realm of the entertainment industry, both women and men have been contributing their talents for nearly equal durations, particularly on screen. Nevertheless, it remains puzzling why the gender pay gap continues to persist up till today. Male actors commanded an average of $57 million in annual income whereas their female counterparts only yielded an average of $21.8 million. Though the figure is still substantial, the disparity is indisputably shocking.

On top of that, Trackstar findings revealed that women earn 79% of what a man does for doing the same job. At the end of her career, a college educated woman will thus have lost nearly half a million dollars due to the gender pay gap.

Breaking the silence 

Despite being one of the highest-grossing earning actresses across the globe, Jennifer Lawrence is a victim of the gender pay gap as she receives millions of dollars less than her male counterparts. In an interview with Vogue, the actress criticised the prevalent pay gap existing in Hollywood and ascertaining that male actors are “overpaid”. One instance was when Lawrence earned $5 million less than Leonardo DiCaprio for the film, Don’t Look Up.

In the film The Martian, Jessica Chastain's salary amounted to approximately $1.75 million, whereas reports suggest that Matt Damon's earnings soared to as high as $25 million. A disparity so big that does not align at all, with their differing screen time. 

In the acclaimed Netflix series, The Crown, Claire Foy was paid less than Matt Smith as Queen Elizabeth II and the queen's husband, respectively. This went on for the show’s first two seasons.

Measures

The California Equal Pay Act is a legislative measure that deters employers from paying one gender less than another for performing the same work. This act is continuously evolving and being enhanced to correct the disparities. 

The enhancements entail provisions to prevent employer retaliation against employees who inquire about their wages, ensuring that employee salaries are equitably upheld, and safeguarding against unwarranted pay comparisons. 

Laws have also been enacted in California to prohibit the solicitation of salary history from prospective employees for the determination of their wages, acknowledging the adversary effects that the practice brings especially for women and marginalized groups. 

The severity of the gender pay gap on women is insurmountable as the effect is compounding hence resulting in her reduced earning power over her lifetime.

Women have a lower probability of advancing at the same speed as men career wise and hence, unable to save as much money for retirement.

It is safe to say that these issues extend far beyond the premise of Hollywood. The gender pay gap is a poignant reminder of the broader struggle for gender equality. While there are measures being put in place, the battle is far from over and it is a collective responsibility to work towards a future where equal pay is a reality for everyone.

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