History of the Gender Pay Gap: From Agrarian Societies to Today

The issue of the gender pay gap, also known as the gender wage gap or gender pay disparity, persisted throughout history in societies across the globe. As we will explore the problem you will learn how gender inequality is rooted in societal norms, economic structures, and institutional biases.

This article will shed light on the history that explains the existence of the gender pay gap in our world. It will help you understand the problem and the evolution of this complex issue.

First, let’s explore the meaning of Gender Gap and Gender Pay Gap.

What is the Gender Gap?

A gender gap is a comparison between people and different genders. It shows us how one group of gender is advantaged over the other.

The gender gap exists in our society in many different ways and forms. People of different genders, ethnic, and religious backgrounds can face discrimination in social, political, intellectual, and economic spheres.

What is the Gender Pay Gap?

Similar to the gender gap, the gender wage gap occurs when people of different genders, especially men and women, are paid different amounts of money for work that requires the same skills and education.

History of the Gender Pay Gap

Agrarian Era and Gender Pay Gap

The issue of gender inequality can be observed in the period of pre-industrialization that continues to persist till day.

In her book Ester Boserup (1970) explains how men were mostly engaged in agricultural and economic activities. Whereas, women were involved in household chores and childcare.

Similarly, Ivy Pinchbeck (1930) states in her book that, the domination of men in economic activities in agriculture and farming gave them an upper hand. They were the heads of households who earned money and had control over resources.

She further continues that women provided assistance and had limited or no access and control over resources. Even though they played an important part in agriculture, farming, and the home industry still they were considered as helping hands.

The gender roles in the agrarian era can be assumed as the beginning of a systematic gender wage gap that is deeply integrated later in our societies. Women were economically dependent on their fathers and husbands and provided cheap labor but useful services in many ways.

Despite their services, they had limited opportunities to enhance their skills through technical training and education. This kept their employment status temporary to fulfill short-term tasks.

Against this background, women faced discrimination and wage disparities.

Limited Educational Opportunities

Women in early years faced barriers to gain education. Lack of access to education hindered their professional development. They were also unable to advance their skills through apprenticeships.

Limited development opportunities and social expectations confined women’s roles to domestic spheres. Low literacy rates hindered women from entering higher-paying jobs and contributed to widening the earnings between men and women.

Industrial Revolution and Gender Pay Gap

The rise of industrial revolution in the 18^th century transformed social and economic development. The transition from agrarian economies to industrial markets opened new employment opportunities and division of labor for men and women.

With inventions and revolution, homemade products made by women began to be manufactured in industry. Manufacturing in industries at large scale opened new employment opportunities benefitting men with better wages.

Women remained confined to their homes because of low literacy rates, fulfilling their family responsibilities, and social norms. These prevented them from working outside the home (Alina Sorgner, 2021).

And when women did join the labor force in the Industrial Revolution their jobs were mostly limited to roles that required low skill levels and paid less. Their jobs revolved around textile mills, clerical positions, or domestic work.

The segregation of labor strengthened the division of labor between men and women. Where men enjoyed managerial positions and women worked as subordinates. Even if they did perform the same tasks still they received less money. 

Capitalism and the Role of Women

The dawn of Industrial Revolution opened new employment opportunities and offered products that reduced work for women at home. Women had more spare time.

This transition transformed women’s role to create a home into heaven. A place where men can relax after they face stress and pressure in the workplace.

In the U.S. the media envisioned the role of women as “…as one who could competently manage a household, tend to the needs of husband and children, and create a pleasant and morally pure environment” (The Role of Women in the Industrial Revolution, n.d.).

World Wars and the Gender Pay Gap

The World Wars brought disruptions and transitioned the role of men and women. Men were primarily engaged in battle field fighting for their countries and leaving behind jobs to be filled.

Additionally, new jobs were created to fulfill the supply of equipment and ammunition used in the war. Despite the resistance women were hired in jobs traditionally known as ‘men’s work’.

Women began to provide their services as conductors, railway guards, police officers, firefighters, cashiers at banks, clerks, etc.

Women even worked with heavy machinery and in the civil service. Despite providing their services as men, women received lower wages (Anitha & Pearson, 2013).

However, as the war ended soldiers began to return home and took over jobs that were performed by women. Jobs that were still done by women didn’t offer equal pay as their male counterparts (Marie Bussing-Burks, 2013).

The Rise of the Feminist Movement for Equality

Postwar, the second wave of the feminist movement took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The movement was more of an outcome of the discrimination women faced after World War II (Dominelli, 2002).  

The movement emerged from the United States and soon spread to other Western countries. It focused on a range of issues. It challenged the disparities and oppression faced by women in family, workplace, and society (Dominelli, 2002; Elinor Burkett, 2024)

Women stood for equal rights in employment and education, reproductive and abortion rights. The movement empowered women and the Equal Pay Act 1963 was passed in the US. The 1963 Act aimed to discourage gender wage discrimination and promote equality (US Dept of Labor, nd).

Gender Pay Gap in the Late 20^th Century and Now

With advancements women increasingly entered higher education and joined professional fields. These challenged traditional social and cultural norms.

Women’s movement, global initiatives, and legislative reforms narrowed the gender wage gap but at a slow pace.

For instance, in the 1960s, women in the U.S. earned 60 cents for every dollar they earned by men. According to the figures of 2022 women earned 84 cents for every dollar earned by men (Greg Daugherty, 2024).

Similarly, in Europe, the gender wage gap in 2022 was 12.7 percent. It means that women earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by men (euronews, 2024).

Even though progress has been made but factors such as occupational segregation, motherhood penalties, and conscious and unconscious biases still promote disparities.

Conclusion

The brief history of the gender pay gap informs us about the deeply ingrained social and cultural norms. These customs were accompanied by a shift in economic development.

Men’s access to and control over resources hindered women’s development. This developed a landscape where women were systematically undervalued and underpaid.

Understanding the historical context and the evolution is crucial in understanding the roots of the gender wage gap and crafting effective solutions.

Acknowledging the background can help us to develop a world that embraces gender equality and compensates individuals based on merit, not their gender.