Gen Z Triumphs: Women Closing the Gender Wage Gap in 22 Cities
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Celebrating the Achievement of Gen Z Women
If you happen to be near a Gen Z woman, take a moment to give her a hug right now. It doesn't matter if she appears intimidating or if the situation is awkward; these remarkable young women deserve our acknowledgment for a monumental achievement—they have successfully closed the gender wage gap.
We’re all familiar with the prevailing narrative: nationally, women earn approximately 84% of what men make. However, this figure primarily reflects older generations. When we focus specifically on Gen Z and analyze salaries by city, it becomes clear that young women are earning equal to or even more than their male counterparts.
Let me emphasize this: These young women are earning the same or more than their male peers in the same age group.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that Gen Z, aged 10 to 25, has managed to close the gender wage gap in 22 cities. In cities like New York and Washington, Gen Z women are earning 102% of what their male peers earn. In Los Angeles, there's achieved pay equity at 100%, and in Naples, Florida, women are earning an impressive 108%. (Dear Boston, it might be time to address some of those underlying biases, so we can work together on this issue.)
But hold on, my trendsetting warriors! The battle isn’t over. Historically, as women age, the pay gap tends to widen. For instance, in 2000, women aged 16 to 29 earned 88% of what their male peers made. Fast forward to 2019, and those same women, now aged 35 to 48, were earning only 80% of what men earned. This widening gap is often tied to the motherhood wage gap.
So, while I joke about motherhood, I encourage you to embrace the joys of life, including having children, as the world needs your brilliance.
Of course, Gen X deserves some credit here. Some of us are old enough to be your mothers, and yes, Millennials, you played a role too. (But let's not forget the American cheese and committed relationships you left in the dust.)
As a proud advocate, I have a few suggestions for Gen Z to sustain this momentum:
Negotiate Early in Your Career
It can feel daunting to negotiate your salary, especially for an entry-level job, but remember: you might be leaving money on the table. If you can argue about trends with Millennials, you can certainly ask for a better paycheck.
Surprisingly, even entry-level salaries can be negotiated. A study involving 150 employers found that when asked to allocate raises without negotiations, they distributed pay equally among male and female employees. However, once the managers had to justify the raises and negotiate, men received 2.5 times the raises compared to women. This discrepancy highlights the expectation that men will demand higher pay, leading companies to comply.
Continue Your Education
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” While he was primarily focused on boys' education, the principle still holds true. The data indicates that education is the most significant investment you can make. College graduates, on average, earn $30,000 more than those with just a high school diploma.
Currently, young women outnumber men in colleges, and this gap is likely to widen as women continue to excel in education. Yes, the landscape may seem competitive, but by the time you graduate, you'll have the upper hand—especially with that well-negotiated salary.
Your Future and Reproductive Rights
As you navigate relationships, remember that some men may feel threatened by empowered women. This fear can lead to attempts at control. However, control often starts at a systemic level, particularly in our courts, where reproductive rights are being eroded.
When women lack autonomy over their bodies, they risk losing control over their lives. Always keep this in mind.
As I reflect on this journey, I embrace my daughter with a heartfelt hug, recognizing all the Gen Z women out there making waves. Here’s my virtual embrace for you all—though my son would likely say that using a crying/smiling emoji would make me appear uncool.
Key Cities Where the Wage Gap Has Closed:
- Wenatchee, WA: $1.20
- Morgantown, WV: $1.14
- Barnstable Town, MA: $1.12
- Gainesville, FL: $1.10
- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL: $1.08
- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA: $1.05
- Yuba City, CA: $1.05
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $1.02
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $1.02
- San Angelo, TX: $1.02
- Champaign-Urbana, IL: $1.02
- Lebanon, PA: $1.02
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: $1.01
- Winston-Salem, NC: $1.01
- Iowa City, IA: $1.01
- Sacramento — Roseville — Arden-Arcade, CA: $1.01
- Flagstaff, AZ: $1.00
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: $1.00
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA: $1.00
- Richmond, VA: $1.00
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA: $1.00
- Urban Honolulu, HI: $1.00
More from Carlyn Beccia:
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