Equality in the workplace was once a pipe dream that nobody thought would ever come true.
But thanks to years of campaigning and some very influential characters along the way; the general consensus is that women can now expect the same benefits when they go to work as men do.
But although legislation has been passed and laws are now in place to ensure wages cannot be based purely on gender alone; are women really in a better position professionally as they were 40 years ago?
The barriers that held women back in the workplace may not be as high as they once were, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are able to command the same wage expectations and career opportunities as men – let alone get the openings in the first place.
Although roughly the same number of women as men are employed in the UK; that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
Statistics show that 70% of women are earning the minimum wage, compared to just 30% of men, and the number of men in full-time roles is double that of their female counterparts.
Despite the obstacles that have been put in their way, women have certainly proved their worth within a number of top firms on both sides of the Atlantic. But despite huge leaps, the numbers are still far from being equal.
To date there are 22 female CEOs on the Fortune 500 list of America’s top performing companies, that’s a 65% increase in just three years. And the story is similar in the UK; where women make up 19% of FTSE 100 directors – a 12% increase on the number in 2010.
Take a look at this infographic and make up your own mind when it comes to how far women have progressed since the introduction of the equal pay act in 1970.
This infographic is created by http://www.canter-law.co.uk/Employment-solicitors