Gender pay gap is a grave issue not only in Nepalese society but also in the entire world. It is an ongoing issue where women earn lower wages than men doing the same or similar occupations. This disparity is not just statistical. It directly impacts how women can act, make choices, take control of their lives, and participate fully in society. It is not merely a matter of salary but is about equality and justice in women’s lives.
What is the Gender Pay Gap?
Gender pay gap is the wage difference between males and females. In Nepal, this issue manifests in nearly every field: farming, daily wage work, and even formal occupations such as a teacher or office job. Women frequently put in as much, if more, hard work as men. However, they are not rewarded equally compared to men due to reasons like social bias, stereotypes, and opportunity. Volunteer Initiative Nepal works to address these systemic issues and promote gender equality in Nepal.
How the Gender Pay Gap Affects Women’s Empowerment
The gender pay gap directly impacts women’s empowerment as it limits career opportunities, discourages participation in related fields, and ultimately hinders progress toward equality.
1) Limits Financial Independence
Unfair wage payment means women have scarce resources to be self-dependent and have to rely on their families or husbands. In Nepal, where traditional gender roles prevail, women mostly depend on husbands or male relatives for economic assistance. Such dependences limit their capacity to act autonomously in their own life.
For instance, if a woman earns less than her husband, she might not feel significant in the family expenditure or in the expenditure of her personal well-being such as health care. This dependency leaves women trapped in a vicious loop.
2) Reduces Access to Opportunities
Due to the gender pay gap, personal savings and investments in personal development are not viable options for women. In Nepalese households, women consider their family first. So, money is generally spent on children’s education or house expenditure instead of self-development. This way women are not able to invest in skill-building courses, higher studies or tools to walk forward in their career.
3) Lowers Confidence and Ambition
Pay gap is sending a damaging message that women’s labor is not equally valued as men’s. In the long run, this impacts women’s self-perception and confidence. Women may no longer be interested in striving for leadership positions or high-income employment if they believe they will not receive a fair reward. In the corporate world of Nepal, well-educated women hardly reach high levels of management. This is not always due to their incompetence but because of biases that undervalue their contribution. When females observe such situations, they begin to think that high-ranking positions are not for them.
4) Affects Families and Communities
The gender pay gap does not put only women at a disadvantage, but also the society. In Nepal, women’s income is usually reserved for food, education, health, and medicine. Lower pay means fewer resources for their children and families, ultimately affecting society. A woman earning less might not be able to send her daughter to school or invest in her son’s better education. This creates a ripple effect, and the cycle of inequality continues into the next generation.
5) Keeps Women Away from Leadership Roles.
Inequality in wage payment is directly related to decision-making power. When women get paid less, they cannot have a say in household and community matters. In many rural areas of Nepal, men are considered the “breadwinners” simply because they earn more, even if women contribute equally in terms of labor. When a woman is equally hardworking as her husband but earns less, it will be challenging for her to take decisions in her family and even society. This limits her ability to bring change at both personal and societal levels.
Conclusion
Gender pay gap is not only an economic problem, it is a barrier in women’s empowerment. It limits women’s autonomy, opportunities, and choices. In a country where women are already subjected to numerous difficulties, removing the pay gap is a vital step toward a more just society. As women receive a fair wage, they not only receive financial empowerment but also the certainty that they have the ability to lead and influence. Hence, it is crucial to fill the gap in gender payment in order to empower women.
Volunteering Initiative Nepal’s women’s empowerment program is one of the many initiatives that help women break free from financial dependence and empower them to create a better future for themselves and their communities. To learn more, click here!
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