The Gender Wage Gap

Term Paper # 99175

Canadian Studies > Gender, Race, Class issues
Gender and Sexuality > Gender Studies
Labor Studies

The Gender Wage Gap

An analysis of the gender wage gap in Canada according to the theories of Karl Marx and Max Weber.

2,149 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes what appears to be ensuring the continuation of the gender wage gap in Canada. It specifically analyzes the theories of Karl Marx and Max Weber in order to determine the differences between the genders and thus the reasons for the gender wage gap. The paper concludes that neither Marx nor Weber provide acceptable explanations for today's culture.

From the Paper:

"Weber's theories also do not offer a blueprint for us to follow today. Weber saw the differences between men and women as natural, and would not have any problem with the gender wage gap. In fact, he would no doubt see it as normal and natural. Indeed, it follows from Weber's theories that - as sex differences are natural - so too are differences in type of work, and pay. Thus, the implication of accepting Weber's theories would be to simply accept the gender wage gap as reflecting the natural differences between men and women. It is argued that this is not at all acceptable today. Moreover, Weber would not have foreseen that men would play increasingly large roles in the lives of their children. If he were around today, he would find the idea of single fathers unbelievable, and also he would find the idea of working mothers (working in the paid work force) unbelievable."

Sample of Sources Used:

Agocs, Carol. "Canada's Employment Equity Legislation and Policy, 1987-2000: The Gap between Policy and Practice." International Journal of Manpower, 23.3 (2002): 256-275.
Banting, Keith, Hoberg, George and Simeon, Richard. Degrees of Freedom: Canada and the United States in a Changing World. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1997.
Marx, Karl & Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Books, 2004. (First published in 1848)
Runciman, W.G. (Ed.) Weber: Selections in Translation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. "Gender Pay Differentials: Impact of the Workplace." 2005. Retrieved from web site: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/020619/d020619b.htm