For many years now, official statistics have consistently shown that girls on average are achieving better results than boys at school.
When they enter their late teens, young women have then been much more likely to go to university than men, and also more likely to complete their studies and get a first or upper-second class degree. So far so good, if you’re a female of the species.
What happens next? Well, here’s the thing. When they grow up and enter the world of work, these young and ambitious women find that their male counterparts have the advantage, in pay and career opportunities.
After graduation, men are more likely to be in ‘highly skilled’ employment or further study just after graduation, says the Government. Male graduate average earnings are around 9% higher than female earnings one year after graduation, according to recent figures. This earnings gap grows substantially over their early careers and reaches 31% ten years after graduation.
For this to be the situation today is pretty shocking, so I’m cautiously pleased to see the Government working with employers and educators to narrow the gap between men and women as they progress through their careers. Let’s hope we see some tangible results in the very near future.
Embracing equity in the workplace
Today is International Women’s Day and the theme is #EmbraceEquity. This will mean different things to different people, but for me it is about us all embracing equal opportunities in education and work. It is about girls and young women being able to reach for the stars and achieve their dreams.
Women can do whatever they want to do in an unbiased world. Together we need to stamp out those biases, unconscious or otherwise, and create a completely level playing field on which gender simply isn’t an issue.
Equity, diversity and inclusivity is not just the right thing to do; it is great for business too. I have said it before but I don’t believe women need to be like men or be better than men.
There is a synergy between a woman’s unique physiological and energetical make-up and the unique physiological and energetical make-up of a man. One is not stronger than another, one is not weaker than another. There is nothing to prove.
We must understand this collectively harmonious and unique energy force and recognise the true power it holds. We must learn to work in perfect synchronicity to super charge its limitless potential.
In other words, let’s #EmbraceEquity.
#IWD23
Mital Thanki, Chief Sparky