Over 30 per cent of women have experienced some form of direct or indirect gender discrimination, according to new research.
A study conducted by BE Offices, found that women are still suffering from sexism and gender discrimination in the workplace despite legislations in place.
The survey found that 33.49 per cent had experienced sexist comments; 26.46 per cent were paid unequally; 25.53 per cent were overlooked for a job for being of childbearing age; 21.55 per cent overlooked for a job for having young children.
Of those surveyed, women revealed that they experienced comments such as, “Told by my director that I didn’t understand business because I was a woman” and “when being passionate I’m told that I’m, ‘just an emotional woman’.”
The research, published just days before International Women’s Day, also revealed that of those surveyed 23.47 per cent are paid less than male colleagues of equal and/or lower seniority.
Almost four out of ten women also said that they felt pressured to juggle work and children, while 40.4 per cent said they were under pressure to balance work and homemaking.
However, the survey did uncover some positives. Women appear to be feeling more confident in themselves than they did six years ago. Those surveyed said they have to change the way they act to get ahead in the workplace. The survey also found that fewer women felt they had to adopt the traits of their male counterparts to be taken seriously.
David Saul, Managing Director of BE Offices, said, “This survey underlines the continuing level of sexual discrimination endured by many women in the workplace.”
“It is frankly depressing that this degree of sexism continues to thrive in the 21st century British workplace, but at least things seem to be moving in the right direction, albeit at a slow pace.”
“It is also clear that the Government is neither doing enough to stamp out gender discrimination or to provide support to talented women who want to juggle a career and motherhood.”
