Because it’s Women’s Month, let’s empower the ladies for real by exploring a factor that could be contributing to their low wages: their personalities.
On one hand, many women all over the world are earning less than men because of oppression. The Gender Disparity Index (GDI) shows us that women’s property rights, freedom of movement, freedom to work, and human rights protection are far more constrained compared with those of the men in countries with limited economic liberty. As of 2018, the countries with the greatest inequities between the sexes are Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. These five states all have a legal male guardianship system in which women must subject all aspects of their lives under a man’s authority from birth to death. Such a systemic discrimination against women has trapped them in many abusive situations that hinder their career advancement. The male guardianship system has created a humanitarian crisis that can be solved only by deep cultural transformation, not by throwing around platitudes about girl power.
On the other hand, women in free countries enjoy almost, if not all, of the same privileges as men. Yet, they still generally have lower salaries. The pay gap could be due to the need for more reforms to ensure the protection of women’s economic liberties. As a therapist though, I’m also interested in how personality differences are affecting the sexes’ earning potential. Studies have shown that a personality trait called agreeableness is causing women to earn less than men. While agreeable people are commendable for their empathy and compassion, they also tend to lack the boundaries that are crucial for promoting their career growth. They are less inclined to show off their qualifications for promotions, confront colleagues, and negotiate better working conditions just to keep the peace. Women’s higher levels of agreeableness are compounded by their greater tendencies towards neuroticism, which hampers productivity.
So how can women in economically free countries close the gender wage gap? One way is to capitalize on their conscientiousness to move up the career ladder. Another important solution is to recognize how being too agreeable is holding them back. From that starting point, they’ll be able to devise and implement strategies for asserting their boundaries and negotiating for better pay.
The Six Facets of Agreeableness by Todd Grande, PhD, licensed professional counselor
The Advantages of Being Disagreeable by Todd Grande, PhD, licensed professional counselor
How to Get Respect Without Being a Bully by Charisma on Command
How to Stand Up for Yourself During Conflict by Charisma on Command
How to Instantly Become More Persuasive by Charisma on Command
How to Be More Assertive by Kyle Ingham, creator of The Distilled Man
(Photo from Canva)
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