When North Americans think about the EU, we think about a very progressive national collective of nations, treating their distinct populations to all the benefits of an advanced society. Despite the promotion of gender equality in European Society, especially the gap between men’s and women’s salaries, many women continue to live in poverty, and social assistance and struggle to make ends meet.
The average gross pay of women in the Balkans and Eastern Europe remains much lower than their male counterparts who make 11-24% more. The benefits offered to men far exceeds the woman’s packages. The differences between salaries are going down over time, but the degree is not significant. If the gross average salary of a woman in Serbia is 94,911 dinars (@$995.00 dollars) these women suffer to financially survive. Many Serbian and Balkan Families have their adults all working to meet their needs.
Gender discrimination and traditional lifestyles are possible reasons. Women tend to stay home more often than men, and mothers aged 25-45 have far more difficulty finding employment than single ladies. Sarita Bradas of the Center for Democracy Foundation says jobs for women are typically less valued than those for men. Women have a steep mountain to climb the corporate ladder as well. Men occupy strategically significant and better-paying positions, women are often placed in closer contact with the consumer. Men remain in leadership positions, and women are directed to maintenance service positions.
In Dominica and Jamaica, women make 15-20% less than men. Barbados employs 75% of its women, who make 7% less than the qualified men in similar positions. Latin American stats show the salary difference to be much similar to the EU, where men make up to 25% more than their counterparts, with Argentina being the highest at 31%, and Ecuador the lowest at 1.8%.
Adding paint to the injury of Latin and Caribbean Women is that they are much more educated than their counterparts. The traditional idea of male male-dominated home, with the male bringing home the bacon, may be false, but still believed in much of the world today.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
