GAVIN KEETON: Nobel winner’s story shows the uphill battle for women
The recent jobs summit opened the country’s eyes to workplace gender disparities hindering progress
At the recent jobs summit it was agreed that companies should annually disclose pay gaps between male and female employees. Disclosure will initially be voluntary, but may become obligatory. In the UK, where disclosure is already compulsory for larger employers, it was revealed that in 2017 men on average earned 18% more than women. The UK evidence suggests SA should extend reporting on pay gaps to the government. There, 90% of public sector organisations pay men more than women — about 14% more on average. Gender pay differences are the result not only of men earning more than women in the same position, but also the preponderance of men in senior positions and of women in low-wage positions. These differences persist even though women now make up almost half the workforce and more than half of university graduates in many countries. Academia is not exempt from gender discrimination. This year's Nobel prize winner, Donna Strickland, is only the third woman to win the physics prize....
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