Most employers throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country have measures in place to ensure that female and male employees receive equal treatment. However, whether intentional or not, gender stereotypes are still a problem that affects certain companies. Considering that, here is a closer look at a few ways that gender stereotypes lead to discrimination in the workplace.
A lack of advancement
Throughout an employee’s life, many of them long to receive a promotion or acknowledgment from their supervisors and managers. Unfortunately, gender stereotypes in a workplace could make female employees the victims of unfair treatment. Examples of unfair treatment could involve females getting passed over for promotions or group projects.
Women feel discriminated against
It’s no surprise that stereotypes and discrimination often go hand in hand. With that in mind, many female employees who are victims of stereotypes also face discrimination from male workers. For instance, new mothers can be victims of discrimination when passed on for a promotion due to this new life change.
Female employees can also face discrimination when male employees avoid contact with any women in the workplace. Sometimes, discrimination against female workers can escalate to the point of male employees making inappropriate jokes or comments towards them.
Unfair pay
Workplace discrimination and harassment don’t only involve a worker’s mental and physical health, they can also affect their paychecks. A study from 2011 found that the average female worker earned 83.5% of what a male earned in a similar position. If a company is stereotyping women, its executives might think that women are ill-suited to leading a business.
To summarize, gender stereotypes remain a problem in workplaces throughout the world. Unfortunately, these stereotypes can also lead to workplace discrimination against a company’s female employees.