Women have been striving for equality in professional environments for a long time. It is a well-known fact that women are often paid less than men for the same amount of work. Sometimes even more. But this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.

Higher Education with Lower Wages

The wage gap between men and women has improved over the last few decades, but it is still a reigning issue in the workplace. Ironically, women have historically sought out and earned more degrees in higher education than men. Yet those same women enter the workforce and are offered lower wages than men with less education. It shows that even the most educated woman is viewed as less desirable than men with fewer skills.

Sexism and Sexual Harassment

On top of being paid less for more work, women deal with a lot of sexual harassment in the workplace. The "Me Too" movement has brought this issue to light a lot. It has provided a safe space for women to speak openly about these experiences and how they impact their quality of work. When a workplace fails to promote gender balance in its policies, it also fails to protect women and other sexual identities from harassment.

Racism

Sadly race also plays a large role in how a woman is treated in the workplace. Often minority women are improperly compensated to a larger degree than white women. So their intersecting identities as a woman and a minority cause them to be treated even more unfairly than other women when it pertains to men in the workforce.

A Better Work Environment

Gender equality means respect and recognition for anyone contributing to the growth of a company or business. So refusing to support and promote quality workers due to their gender or sexuality is taking away from the authenticity and inclusion necessary for a healthy work environment.