Time for Anti - Discrimination Laws

Have a look at the following articles and basically the same argument is refered to. It's got something to do with women needing to struggle even harder in order to receive equal pay. An alternative and viable solution would be to introduce anti sexual discrimination laws. It would atleast ensure that employers realise that paying someone less because of their gender is unjust and unfair. To refer to sex discrimination as a 'tough environment' clings to a notion that the environment is rigid and unchanging. Change the environment, send out a clear unambiguous message to employers. Stop sexual discrimination. The Woman's Charter needs to be more than a toothless tiger. Abuse does not always come in physical, verbal or emotional forms it can also take on a financial form.

Singapore women get lower salaries than male: survey

www.chinaview.cn 2005-03-08 03:50:51

SINGAPORE, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A survey showed that Singapore women do not enjoy equal pay for equal work as compared with their male counterparts, according to Channel NewsAsia report on Monday night.

The report quoted an economic advisor of the polling company as saying that a female executive has to work much harder than her male counterpart in the same position because of the tough environment.

The survey, in which Singapore ranked the seventh, also showed that Singapore women are catching up with men in terms of education and career advancement.

Conducted by MasterCard International, a leading global payments solutions company, the survey aimed to examine the socio-economic level of women to men in the Asia Pacific region by comparing data collected from 13 countries.

S'pore women say they are not paid enough compared to male counterparts: survey
By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singapore is seventh in a survey which compares the socio-economic level of women to men in Asia Pacific region.

Although the survey shows that Singapore women are closing the gap with their male counterparts in terms of tertiary education, the women are lagging behind when it comes to salaries.

The survey by MasterCard compares the data from 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region.

A score above 100 means gender inequality in favour of women; a score of 40 for - above average income, shows that Singapore women surveyed say they are underpaid.

One woman said, "It's not fair, we're doing the same standard with the guys but salary wise it's not fair."

Meanwhile a man said, "Women are not paid as well. I think it's the same as everywhere in the world at this moment; it's still like that because women are not taken as seriously as men."

Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Economic Advisor, MasterCard International, said, "The women executive would tend to believe she is actually better, superior compared to a male counterpart because the environment is so tough, she really has work so much harder and excel and out-perform her male counterparts in the same position."

Most of the women Channel NewsAsia spoke to agreed Singapore women are progressing well in terms of education and career advancement; but in some cases, they had to put their careers on hold in favour of marriage and having children.

On the other hand, Thailand topped the study with the highest overall index of 92, partly due to the large number of tertiary educated women there. - CNA

My favourite example to illustrate that the press in Singapore loves to target the victim for blame is from Today...

"And they have mainly their lack of self-confidence — or too-high expectations — to blame."