Is the Gender Pay Still a Thing?

Short answer: yes, long answer: also yes. You might think that, as a society, we have come so far in terms of workplace equality for men and women. To an extent, that is very true. Statistics show that in 2024, Women earned 85% of what men earned, which is 4% up from 2003’s statistics, showing that women earned 81% as much as their male counterparts (pew). However, until that number reaches 100%, we cannot claim that the gender pay gap does not exist.

I vividly recall a story my teacher told our class once. One of my teachers shared a story about her friend — a hardworking, long-time employee at a company where she had steadily climbed the ladder, earned a promotion, and proven her value over the years. She was proud of how far she’d come. But then, her company hired a new employee — a man — to join the team. He stepped into a role below hers in the company hierarchy, yet to her surprise and frustration, he was being paid the exact same salary she had spent years working toward — a salary she had only just reached after earning a promotion. It wasn’t about seniority, performance, or loyalty. It
was a harsh reminder of a deeper issue: she had to prove herself over time and get a
promotion to reach that salary, meanwhile he received it from day one — simply because he was a man. That story has always stayed with me, because it made the gender pay gap feel personal, real, and impossible to ignore.

So, how can you ensure that you’re getting paid what you deserve? First, carefully research the company you’re interviewing for. Look at what past employees have to say about their company values and ethics. Next, use apps like LinkedIn to get a realistic idea of what someone in your role should be making. Finally, have an honest, open conversation with your manager about the salary prior to the start of your employment. Do not be afraid of negotiating, men do it all the time.

It’s crucial that we, as women, continue to advocate for equal pay. There is no justifiable reason why women should earn less than men for doing the same work. While we’ve made meaningful progress over the years, there is still a long way to go — and the fight for pay equity is far from over.

By Thalia Atassi

Sources:
Pew Research Center. (2025, March 4). Gender pay gap in U.S. has narrowed slightly over 2 decades. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/04/gender-pay-gap-in-us-has-narrowed-slightly-over-2-decades/#:~:text=The%20gender%20gap%20in%20pay,81%25%20as%20much%20as%20men.