Fighting the Legacy of gender inequality and the wage gap (Edited Content)

21 March 2018 marks exactly 70 years since the creation of the Universal Declaration of human rights.  Gender equality is one of the human rights that has been enacted in the South African Constitution but what is the significance of celebrating human rights day when our fellow women are still treated unfairly  especially in the work. Women are called Imbokodo which means “The Rock” because they are able to overcome many challenges but unfortunately when it comes to the work place they remain defeated. Gender imbalances continue to take place whether there is a human right that is being violated or not, fairness is far to come within the working environments.

South Africa is not the only country facing gender inequalities this was highlighted recently with the release of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Global Gender Gap Report in 2017, which benchmarked the efforts of 144 countries to close the gender wage gap. The findings were a disgrace. The report referred to a “continued stalling of progress at global level” and, in fact, a reversal of ‘wins’ already made. Such is the depth of the wage gap that, noted the report, it would take 217 years to be defeated with the global gender gap taking close to 100 years to close.

For example, on 22 January 2018, at the ripe old age of 90 Minnie Mouse received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was after her male counterpart, Mickey, received his star.  A stark reminder that, even in the world of make believe, women continue to get a raw deal. Issues such as the ‘wage gap’ and more serious concerns around the predatory behavior towards women in the workplace-as we are seeing highlighted in the likes of Hollywood and British theatre currently- are real world issues that many countries are fighting against.

The wage gap will flourish as long as the world keeps serving up a diet of stereotypes which continues to bill women as the weaker sex. Only a unified global army of strong, enlightened, bold, innovative and brave men and women, boys and girls can hope to exterminate this scourge. This is a battle to be fought on all fronts, in the real world, on the big screen, in boardrooms, in classrooms and, yes, even on the animator’s easel.