There’s a quote by Steve Maraboli that says, “The greatest way to ‘man-up’ is to empower women,” and we honestly couldn’t have said it better.
The issue of pay equity amongst men and women has been an exhausting but necessary topic as more women continue to shatter glass ceilings while taking on bigger roles in their careers.
On average, women earn about $0.77 for every $1 earned by men, according to the International Labour Organization. That means that the global gender pay gap is close to 23%. As of 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau said that women in the U.S. earn about $0.82 for every $1 earned by men. The gap is even wide for women of color– Black women earn about $0.63, Latina women earn about $0.58, and Native American women earn close to $0.60 for every $1 earned by white men.
These numbers prove that the gender pay gap remains a significant issue worldwide. Efforts that can help combat these issues include promoting pay transparency, implementing equitable policies, and support women in their career advancement.
Men can play a crucial role in advocating for women’s pay equity by taking several proactive steps:
- Educate Themselves: Understand the statistics and the root causes of the gender pay gap. Awareness is the first step towards meaningful advocacy.
- Speak Up: Use their voice to challenge pay disparities and advocate for fair compensation for female colleagues. This can involve speaking up in meetings or supporting policies that promote pay equity.
- Mentor and Sponsor: Actively mentor and sponsor women in the workplace, providing guidance, opportunities, and support to help them advance in their careers.
- Support Transparency: Advocate for salary transparency within their organizations. Transparent pay practices can help identify and rectify pay disparities.
- Promote Flexible Work: Support policies that promote work-life balance, such as flexible working hours and parental leave, which can help women maintain career progression while managing family responsibilities.
- Challenge Bias: Recognize and challenge unconscious biases in themselves and others that can affect hiring, promotion, and pay decisions.
- Join and Support Initiatives: Get involved in or support workplace initiatives, committees, and groups focused on gender equality and pay equity.
- Lead by Example: Ensure their own teams are compensated fairly and advocate for fair pay in their sphere of influence.
- Advocate for Policy Change: Support and advocate for broader policy changes at the organizational and governmental levels that promote pay equity.
- Use Privilege for Good: Leverage their positions of power and privilege to highlight issues of pay inequity and to push for systemic changes that promote equality.
By taking these steps, men can contribute significantly to closing the gender pay gap and fostering a more equitable workplace.
