The persistence of gender pay disparity is driven by biases, as highlighted in a recent study by the World Bank, according to a report by "Kommersant." The study, conducted by senior economist William Zeitz, focused on examining biases against women's wages in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Official figures reveal wage gaps of 22% in Kazakhstan, 25% in Kyrgyzstan, and 39% in Uzbekistan, comparing men and women's earnings. In comparison, the International Labour Organization estimates the global average wage gap to be around 20%.
Despite women in Central Asian countries having relatively easy access to education, the wage gap remains a challenge. While Uzbekistan has legally enshrined pay equality, experts suggest that legislation alone is insufficient to resolve this issue.
The research involved presenting fictional descriptions of eight workers from various sectors, each characterized by gender, age, and salary. The findings indicated that women's wages were perceived as "fair" 7% more often, "slightly overestimated" 8% more often, and "significantly overestimated" 13% more often compared to men in equivalent positions.
Interestingly, when evaluating male salaries, respondents were 33% more likely to consider them underpaid, revealing a systematic bias against the value of women's work. The study didn't delve into the reasons for this bias but demonstrated that personal perceptions heavily contribute to the issue.
Zeitz and his team also examined gender discrimination levels in Uzbekistan by sending fabricated resumes with male and female names but identical qualifications to employers. This revealed that women seeking driving positions required 180% more responses to secure interviews, while men seeking accounting positions needed 79% more applications.
Job ads frequently included age, gender, and appearance preferences. Gender requirements were present in 67% of secretary roles, 42% of accountant roles, and 27% of call center operator roles. Additionally, ads for IT specialists and drivers often utilized male pronouns, indicating a segregation of roles based on gender.
These findings partly explain the higher female unemployment rate in Uzbekistan, standing at 13% compared to 6% for males, according to official data. Women's representation in the workforce lags behind men by 28%.
The World Bank suggests that addressing this problem necessitates legislative reforms against discrimination and targeted programs offering internships, scholarships, and training. The study underscores the importance of education in combatting stereotypes.
Promoting equal opportunities in non-traditional fields can lead to the recruitment of qualified personnel and enhanced work efficiency, which, in turn, contributes to economic growth. Eliminating gender inequality stands as a vital stride toward fostering an actively expanding economy.
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