Abstract
This paper provides an overview of gender inequality comparing Europe and North America through media perspectives and company front runners within each region. It will provide an analysis of the methods used by companies and how actions are successfully carried out. As well it will discuss the likelihood of sustaining and gender equal company and how quickly or slowly companies can change.
Discrimination is a very relevant topic today and has been in recent years. To discriminate in the labor market means to treat or favor a person on a basis other than individual merit. There are several ways that discrimination can occur, race, gender or disabilities are some examples. On the subject of gender discrimination there have been numerous studies concluding men have higher average incomes than women. Although, this does not always mean women are being discriminated against. The difference in wages can be explained by educational attainment, age, occupational choice, prior work experience and average weekly hours of work.
In many organizations today there have been changes from task specialized structures towards more integrated organizational structures (Lindbeck and Snower, 2000). Job rotation, learning across tasks, teamwork, decentralization of responsibility and worker participation in decision making are now common work practices. These forms of human resource management were adopted by over 71 percent of U.S firms (Ostermann, 1994; 2000). In Europe the number was considerably lower but Scandinavian countries were more frequent to adopt these new structures than the rest of Europe.
A company aiming to be a frontrunner in equal rights has to first create equal promotion rights in their company; to ensure female workers have the same chance of being promoted as male workers. Secondly, it is important that men and women in the same position have equal pay for the equal work they are doing. Thirdly, creating quality control and job rotation in the firm, so that typical "male dominant" jobs are more diversified. It is of high importance that all different jobs are open for all candidates because a diversified workforce often leads to better work environment and better results.
