More than a third of the gender pay gap in Norway is due to women being paid less than men, even if they do the same job. Previous studies have mainly concluded that the wage differences are due to men and women being sorted into different jobs. Therefore, the researchers were surprised when they found that the gender differences are so large among people with the same job in the same place. After reading about the research, Equality Minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) said that the figures are discouraging. At the same time, she promised to work hard to close the pay gap. Now she is giving away NOK 2 million: – Anecdotal evidence from our lives is not enough. We need numbers and we need facts, to see the structures that govern the company and in society, writes Trettebergstuen in an e-mail to news. Minister for Culture and Equality Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap). Photo: Anders Fehn/news An unpleasant topic – There are persistent pay differences between women and men at business level. It has been a blind spot, says researcher Mari Teigen. She heads Core – Center for equality research. They are the ones who get the money and the assignment. They will both research pay differences within workplaces and look at the possibilities of developing a national pay overview. – Wage differences between the sexes are an unpleasant topic. It does not fit well with the way most of us think social development has been. Equality Minister Trettebergstuen says more facts are needed to get the results the authorities want, namely better equality. – How often have we been told that “in this particular case it is absolutely right that he earns more than her?” Precisely in this department, it is right that he became the boss and not her. It just happens to be the case that the men earn better with us. It’s not about a pattern.” Well, the numbers are clear, and it’s no accident, says Trettebergstuen. Obligations to work for equality All employers in Norway must work actively against discrimination. This duty of activity and reporting is enshrined in law. – I believe that most companies are interested in taking good care of and treating their employees fairly. And that is precisely what the activity and reporting obligation both mandates and helps with, says Trettebergstuen. Among other things, Core will investigate how the businesses report on the gender differences. – Here it is also important to examine how employers in this case argue for paying men and women differently, says researcher Teigen. Mari Teigen is a researcher at the Department of Social Research and head of CORE – Center for Equality Research. Photo: Institute for social research Working life with dysfunctional features One theory behind the pay gap between women and men in the workplace is that women reduce their efforts when they have children. Core has already done a lot of research on the equal pay problem. According to Teigen, the persistent differences in pay between the sexes are to a small extent about women lowering their efforts or ambitions with motherhood. She believes it is more about a working life with dysfunctional features. This has traditionally affected women the most, she says, but adds that this will probably change: – I think this is a problem we will see more of in the future – for both women and men. The researchers expect to have their first results ready by the end of 2023.
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The Center for Equality Research receives 2 million from the Minister for Equality – news Trøndelag
