We can give logical explanations for portions of the gender gap in pay. But we can’t explain it all without addressing the role of unconscious bias. Some argue that women choose lower paying jobs; there is reason to believe that the jobs held by women are paid less because they are held by women. Sound like bias to you?
Our diversity training programs and my blogs focus on gender diversity in the workplace, specifically at the leadership levels of business. This issue, while important, is the tip of the iceberg. There are more serious issues that I think are related. Women are under-represented and under-compensated not only in business but in educational, government, medical, military and non-profit workplaces. While business women are economically self-sufficient, many women live in poverty. Women are the victim of domestic and sexual violence across the globe. Are there common attitudes about women that underlie all of these issues?
