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For centuries, women have been fighting for equal pay for equal
work. The idea that women should be paid the same as men for doing the same job
is a simple concept, yet it is still a struggle that women face in many
countries. The concept of equal pay is not just a matter of justice and
fairness, but it is also a question of economic necessity. This essay will
explore the history of unequal pay, the reasons behind it, and the ongoing fight
for equality.
The idea of equal pay for equal work is simple: if two people are doing the same
job, they should be paid the same amount, regardless of their gender. However,
in many countries, this is not the case. The reason behind unequal pay is
complex and can be traced back to historic and cultural biases against women. In
the past, it was considered degrading for women to earn money at all.
Lower-class women worked as helps to their husbands in the fields, brickyards,
foundries, and mills, with no rights and no expectations other than toil and an
early death. The development of factories led to the concentration of
populations in the towns, and as prices rose, men's wages never kept pace, so
women had to work to supplement the family income. Today, many married women
still work, often out of economic necessity, and they deserve to be paid the
correct rate for the job they do, not the sex they belong to.
In westernized countries, women have made significant progress in achieving
equality in property rights and the franchise, but the fight for equal pay is
ongoing. There are those who argue that single women do not need the same pay as
married men, and that married women's pay is additional, while the married man's
pay is basic to the family. But what about their old age? How can an employer
presume to assess the income he pays his employees based on their domestic
commitments? Women may well ask why they should be paid less simply because they
are not union-minded or because they are relatively unorganized.
The unequal pay for women is based on historic snobbery and economic oppression,
not on any careful assessment of financial commitments. It is time for these
remaining inequalities to be ironed out everywhere. The government, trade
unions, and employers all have a role to play in fixing pay rates. In a free
economy, unions will call for a strike for more pay when the cost of living
index rises, and they will always press for not only a realistic wage level but
also a share in the profits of the firm. The fact that women are often paid a
lower rate for doing the same job as men indicates that, on the whole, most
women are not union-minded and are available in large numbers for short-term
employment.
In conclusion, the fight for equal pay for equal work is an ongoing battle for
women everywhere. It is a question of fairness and justice, and it is time for
the remaining inequalities to be ironed out. The government, trade unions, and
employers all have a role to play in fixing pay rates, and it is up to women to
continue the fight for equal pay. The goal is to achieve parity in every sphere
of male occupation, from heavy engineering to the mines, so that women are
debarred from nothing. The fight for equal pay is not just about women, it is
about creating a fairer and more just society for everyone. |
