Unveiling economic inequalities: investigating the gender pay gap through the lens of Feminist Economics

This thesis discusses the gender pay gap, focusing on the disproportionate impact on women, especially women of colour, who earn significantly less than men. It highlights how social norms and cultural expectations influence gender roles, leading to disparities in education, career choices, and ultimately, pay. The theory of occupational segregation is explored, emphasizing how women are overrepresented in low-paid roles due to societal undervaluation of work traditionally done by women. Factors contributing to the gender pay gap include work patterns, age, educational attainment, and motherhood. The persistence of the pay gap suggests a stigma associated with feminized occupations, where work done by women is undervalued economically and socially. Overall, the document provides insights into the complexities of the gender pay gap and its underlying causes. It also discusses economic inequalities, focusing on income, wealth, and pay inequality. It explains how income inequality is measured using instruments such as the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient which highlights a graphical method to represent income inequality levels. Wealth inequality is described as the total assets of an individual or family, distributed more unequally than income. Pay inequality, exemplified by the gender pay gap, reflects differences in earnings due to factors like discrimination and career choices. The text also touches on the causes and consequences of income inequality, including globalization, technological advancements, and taxation. Solutions to reduce income inequality are suggested as a combination of direct income adjustments and indirect efforts. Additionally, it explores the broader context of gender equality in Europe, discussing legal frameworks, international conventions, and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality. Lastly, this thesis focuses on feminism highlighting their interventions to reduce the phenomenon of gender inequality.