It is called the “Gender Pay Gap”, the gender pay gap present in the labor market that decades of battles, debates and regulatory interventions have not yet managed to fill. Studies and statistics continue to confirm it: for the same role and tasks, women’s paychecks are lighter than men’s.
Whether it is a cultural factor, a legacy of stereotypes and discrimination or more simply a choice dictated by a world of work on a “human scale”, one thing is certain: reducing inequality between the sexes is fundamental for the development of women’s freedom and for the creation of a more inclusive society and economy.
Of the wage inequality and of the (many) difficulties experienced by working women it was discussed during a conference, held last night in Barletta.
Organized by Association of Women Jurists in Italy sec. of Tranithe meeting took place in the headquarters of Naval League in via Cristoforo Colombo.
Here, several speakers discussed the topic, building the dialogue on a simple yet necessary question: “Are we really all the same?”.
Those who intervened on the topic were the Prof. Lawyer Marco BarbieriProfessor of Labor Law at the University of Bari, la Dr. Teresa CaradonnaVice President of Small Industry Confindustria, la Dr. Floriana DibenedettoLabor Judge at the Court of Trani and the Dr. Filomena PrincipaleRegional Secretary of the CGIL.
From the meeting, moderated by President Adgi section. of Trani Lawyer Anna Chiumeoa clear message emerged, that is, how long the road still remains for effective equality between men and women in the workplace.
And the gap (the gap) is not just wage-related. In fact, women are often employed in precarious or irregular work positions. Many of them are then forced to reduce their working hours or even abandon their jobs due to the impossibility of reconciling employment and motherhood. The burden of caring for home and family falls on their shoulders and the possibility of making a career and accessing leadership positions tends to fade away.
“Although our Constitution and Italian and European legislation are very clear on this point, in practice no equality exists” he underlined the lawyer Chiumeo. “Women are still entrusted with too many roles and supports such as nurseries, childcare services or RSAs are unfortunately in short supply. The work organization is still based on a male and patriarchal scheme.”
According to Dr. Filomena Principale it is necessary “breaking down the wall of stereotypes and prejudices through cultural change. Cultural correctives are neededi – he explained during his speech – and the change must affect all levels of our working, social and civil organisation”.
“Wage inequality is just the tip of the iceberg” he then reiterated the Dr. Floriana Dibenedetto. “The problems also concern entry into the world of work and career progression, both in the public and private sectors.”
The conference therefore had the objective of investigating, from different points of view, problems that are still sadly current. It emerged that the gender gap is not closed at allThat the path of women in the world of work is often an obstacle course and that it is certainly necessary to reduce inequalities Act on multiple levels.
