Gender Bias Still Exists Within the Executive Workplace
In Survey by Executive Jobs Website TheLadders.com 72% of Execs Say Men Get Paid More than Women for Same Work
NEW YORK (April 10, 2007) - Half of all managers at US employers are female, yet when it comes to senior posts, men outnumber the women by almost 6 to 1. Amidst a surge of news reports about the unique challenges that high performing women face in the workplace, and as the nation considers a electing a woman to the top job in the country, gender discrimination is still a factor in the American workplace.
The Glass Ceiling
According to a survey from TheLadders.com, the world's leading online service for $100,000+ jobs, the "glass ceiling" is still a major factor for female executives. When asked whether men and women were paid the same for similar positions, a 71.5% majority said, "no." Likewise, 66.3% of executives surveyed said that women do not have as many opportunities as men to become company CEOs. Meanwhile, 54.1% of the survey respondents - representing both sexes - said that men and women are equally adept at managing employees.
Working Moms
Despite the obstacles many working women still face, few have a desire to trade in their suits for an apron. When asked whether they would continue to work after having children, 47% said they would continue to work, but at a reduced load, even if money were no object. Twenty seven percent said they would continue to work at full-time status. This high prevalence of working moms is set against a stark backdrop of 55% of executives who said that employees with young children are more likely to experience workplace discrimination.
As for family-friendly office environments, 63% of executives responding to the survey said that their workplace offers no assistance in the form of day care, on-site nursing facilities or time-off children's school activities.
Sexual Harassment
In one particularly disturbing stat, 51.2% of executives responding to the survey said they have experienced some form of sexual harassment. Twenty six percent said that they hadn't personally but knew of someone who had experienced harassment.