Since 1911 when the first International Womenโs Day was held, women all around the world have both celebrated their economic, political and social achievements and campaigned for parity. Now, more than 100 years on and as we prepare to mark International Womenโs Day on 8 March โ what exactly has changed and what is the psychology of the female worker in 2016?
The campaigns for equality have not stopped since the first suffragist demonstrators demanded voting rights. In the second feminist movement post world war, women worked hard to position themselves as equal in business, as well as socially developing the ideology that women did not have to depend on men and had a right to a career. But does understanding the differences in the neuroscience and psychological make up of both genders help business?
Cognitive psychologist and business neuroscientist Dr Lynda Shaw explains that while we know there are differences between the brains of both genders and that these may mark subtle differences in the workforce, it is the pay gap and the mounting pressure on women that are the greatest issues facing females in 2016.
โThere are minute physical differences between the brains of the genders. For instance, women are more likely to have greater emotional intelligence and empathy because of having a larger limbic system.ย Similarly, the prefrontal cortex is larger in women and they are less likely to take risk in business. Both men and women are bullied in the workplace, but women are more likely to take it personally and for it have a semi or permanent effect on their confidence because their larger limbic system means they are more likely to be in touch with emotions and are more vulnerable.
However, ultimately there are no convincing differences between the brains of men or women that mean one is better suited to a specific career than the other. Simply put, the plasticity of the brain means we know that women and men are equally able to perform in any career.
โThe issue that remains is the imbalance of how women are treated. Companies are reluctant to hire young women because of the implications of maternity leave and women still earn less for doing the same job and this ultimately means that they are not valued as highly. That is the most important thing to consider โ how women are valued.โ
Even 10 years ago womenโs worth differed from men in the workplace. The idea of women working in engineering and science fields was still an uphill battle. Today the world economy would collapse without women working. Yet in 2010 International Labour Organisation found that in 83 countries, women earn 10-30% less than men and it would take another 75 years for women to get paid equally around the globe. In comparison there is better news in the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that the gender pay gap has fallen to under 10% for the first time ever. In fact, women in full-time work are seeing their wages grow at more than twice the rate of men.
In her 20s a woman has to be more driven because ultimately, she has less time to climb the career ladder and build her accomplishments if she is to take time out to have children. It is estimated that women in Britain lose 9% of their wage after their first child and 16% after their second child.
Dr Shaw hints that while the gender pay gap is the most obvious problem, stress and anxiety levels are increasing among women.ย โWhile women want and rightly expect equal pay and working conditions, what we are not noticing is that women are also overwhelmed in what society expects of them and what they expect of themselves. Now a woman has to the best in the office as well as a super mum, house organiser and expert wife.
