The Unspoken Truth About the Gender Wage Gap
A Lifetime of Lost Earnings
Did you know that a college-educated woman in the US can expect to lose up to $800,000 in wages over her career due to the gender wage gap? This staggering figure doesn’t even account for the wage gap faced by women of color, nor the emotional labor women are expected to perform to be considered competent.
The Systemic Injustice
Male-led institutions consistently undervalue women’s work, paying them less than they’re worth. Meanwhile, men are often promoted despite being less qualified. It’s time to acknowledge that this money rightfully belongs to women. So, why not marry the men who have been given these opportunities and make the wealth ours?
Rethinking Marriage
Marriage has traditionally been a means of consolidating wealth and securing alliances. In the past, women were seen as property, and their wealth was not their own. While social norms have changed, capitalism still demands the accumulation of wealth to survive. It’s time to view marriage as an economic necessity rather than a romantic one.
The Gold Digger Stigma
Our perception of “gold diggers” is skewed in favor of men. We forget that these women often provide intangible benefits to their partners, such as ego boosts, household management, and social advantages. They’re simply using their labor as economic leverage in a system that objectifies women.
Time to Take Control
Women can’t afford not to prioritize financial security. With institutional sexism stacked against us, it’s essential to take matters into our own hands. If we have the opportunity to secure wealth through marriage, why not do so? The only potential ill is deception, but even that is problematic when men’s pursuit of wealth is often driven by the desire to impress women.
A Call to Action
Men cannot have it both ways, asserting their worth based on wealth while denigrating women for valuing it. If men want to be judged on more than their earning potential, they should work to ensure that marriage is no longer the best way for women to achieve financial parity. It’s time for men to pay women fairly and adequately for their labor. Only then can we break free from the cycle of undervaluation and objectification.
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