Workplace inequality still exists, as working women still lag behind men in pay and promotional opportunities according to Gallup’s Work and Education survey conducted Aug. 5-9, 2015. Surprisingly little has changed since Gallup conducted a similar poll two years ago.
Lydia Saad breaks down the data on gallup.com. Twelve percent of employed women queried in 2015 believe they have been passed over for a promotion or other workplace opportunity because of their gender; which is not much of an improvement from 2013 when 15% of females polled agreed with that statement. In contrast, just 5% of employed men in 2015 believe their gender impacts their advancement opportunities, compared with 8% two years ago.
A growing number of working women (17% in 2015) believe they are being denied raises because of their gender, compared to 13% who agreed with this statement in 2013. Among working men, just 4% think their gender has impacted their ability to command a raise, which is the same as two years ago. This is particularly disturbing because nearly equal percentages of men and women, 59% and 56% respectively, say that advancing in their career is extremely or very important to them.
The 2015 poll finds working women lag behind working men in satisfaction with the amount of money they earn: 20% of women are completely satisfied, versus 44% of men. In addition, men feel more secure about their jobs. In the 2015 poll, 61% of men said they are completely satisfied with their job security, versus 52% of women who agreed with that statement.
Bottom Line
Gallup’s 2015 study indicates that working women still perceive gender discrimination in the workplace. As Saad writes, “Despite numerous policy and cultural efforts in recent decades to break corporate glass ceilings, integrate women in traditionally male-dominated fields and shine a spotlight on pay equity and advancement, a considerable minority of working women report feeling they were discriminated against at some point in their employment history.”
She adds that “gender perspectives about fairness in advancement and pay could have very real significance when it comes to men’s and women’s life satisfaction, self-esteem, political orientation and broader worldview— implications that employers and policymakers can’t ignore.”
For complete details about the Gallup survey methodology, click here.
