Gender disparity in wealth is an issue that continues to hinder progress towards achieving gender equality. While we have seen some advancements in various aspects of women’s empowerment, economic parity remains elusive for many women. It is important to address this disparity and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Women face unequal pay, limited career advancement opportunities, and occupational segregation, leading to a significant wage gap. This disparity, compounded over time, adversely affects women’s wealth accumulation and their ability to support themselves and family. Many factors can be attributed to this disparity including the fact that women still bear the brunt of unpaid caregiving duties, including childcare and eldercare.
These responsibilities often result in career interruptions, reduced work hours, and limited access to high-paying positions, impeding their wealth-building potential. Studies indicate that women tend to have lower levels of financial literacy. This leads to a lower level of confidence in making financial decisions. Many women also face challenges in accessing capital, credit, and resources necessary to start businesses or invest, as Sharon Hayut has seen in her career in financial services.
Sharon Hayut comments, “Because of the lack of knowledge on where to access or how to access capital and the embarrassment of asking for help to bridge the gap in financial literacy between women and men, we need to work harder to promote equal pay and workplace equality.” Firms need to be transparent in salary structures and the promotion process. Firms also need to address the work-life balance, as women tend to bear the brunt of parental duties.
“We can all work to promote financial education and integrate financial literacy into our firms on board,” Sharon Hayut continues. “Firms can develop gender-responsive lending and establish grants and venture capital initiatives to connect with women, such as integrating education into school curricula and providing accessible resources for adult learning.”
Addressing gender disparity in wealth requires a multifaceted approach that tackles systemic issues, social norms, and individual empowerment. By promoting workplace equality, supporting work-life balance, enhancing financial literacy, improving access to capital and resources, and advocating for policy changes, we can begin to bridge the wealth gap and create a more equitable society. Sharon Hayut aso says “Empowering women economically benefits not only women themselves but also their families, communities, and the overall economy.”