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Oftentimes, women do not receive the same opportunities as men. For years, women have been denied the opportunities that men are given. Although in recent years women have gained more rights, they are still discriminated against and not adequately compensated for their hard work. This issue is especially prominent in the workforce. In an article titled “The Enduring Grip of the Gender Pay Gap.” The article states that Black women earn 70% of what White men earn, Hispanic women earn 65%, White women earn 83%, and Asian women earn 93%. However, it lacks details on the reasons behind these disparities. Why do Asian women earn more than White women, and why do these gaps exist? Many job postings fail to reach a female audience, preventing women from even having the chance to showcase their abilities. Additionally, the gender wage gap limits women's opportunities to provide for their families, support themselves, and receive the equality they rightfully deserve. So, why are women being denied the opportunity to prove they are capable of doing the job, and how does this relate to the responsibility ethic and cannibal capitalism? In the next two paragraphs, we will apply Niebuhr’s Responsibility ethics and Marxist theory to gain a better understanding of human responsibility, capitalism and its impact on women's wages and the gender pay gap. Paragraph four will discuss gender pay disparities from a Catholic social and economic perspective, while paragraph five will explore my personal experiences and how they have shaped my views on gender wage gaps.
Following Niebhur’s Responsibility ethics, Gender wage gaps are unethical according to the Responsibility ethics because it is not considering the consequences of their actions and how they affect others. In this case women, thus undermining moral responsibility. Niebuhr’s responsibility ethics calls us to become closer to God. He emphasizes that sin distances us from God and that the grace of God will lead us to a moral life. Niebuhr stresses the importance of holding people accountable for their actions while also emphasizing that we should love those around us as God loves us. By understanding God’s will, we can live a more moral and fulfilling life. Regarding the topic of equal pay, this means striving for a world with more opportunities for women. Niebuhr states, "Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." ( Reinhold Niebuhr) This quote can be related to the issue of gender pay equality, raising the question of whether achieving equal pay is something we can change or something we must learn to accept.
Nancy Fraser combines Marxist thinking and Black Marxism in her analysis of capitalism. Marxist thinking views labor in a capitalist world as exploitative. Although labor is considered "free" because workers willingly perform it and are not slaves, prisoners, or serfs, capitalism often underpaid workers or does not compensate them fairly for their efforts. Fraser describes capitalism as "cannibal capitalism," meaning that it exploits human labor for the sake of production efficiency. She argues that capitalism extends beyond economic structures and affects social relationships, ultimately harming society as a whole. This concept applies to modern workplaces where women perform labor that is undervalued and underpaid compared to men. Women often provide the same high-quality work yet receive lower wages. Cannibal capitalism manifests as companies knowingly exploit women's labor, taking advantage of their willingness to work for lower pay. Businesses benefit by reducing labor costs while maximizing production and profit, perpetuating systemic inequality.
A journal discussing gender wages and Catholic social teaching provides an economic perspective on wages. While it does not argue against Catholic social teaching, it presents a different approach by focusing on supply and demand. From an economic standpoint, wages are determined by market forces. If an employer and employee agree on a certain wage, then as long as the employer pays that amount, the exchange is considered fair. Catholic social teaching, on the other hand, prioritizes justice. It argues that wages should not just be about equality but fairness—workers should be paid based on the value of their labor. Economists claim that increasing wages could lead to higher costs, unemployment, and inflation, but Catholic teaching views wages as a moral issue that should uphold human dignity. Additionally, Catholic social teaching emphasizes policies that support those unable to work, such as unemployment benefits and inclusive employment opportunities. In this context, women—who often face barriers in the workforce—would be among those whom these policies aim to protect. This explanation of Catholic social teaching has deepened my understanding of the gender wage gap issue. While I see both perspectives, I strongly align with the Catholic viewpoint. Change does not happen overnight—it requires collective effort. A good place to start would be at the local government level, creating policies that improve pay equity. I also now understand why simply paying everyone equally may not always be just. Instead, wages should be based on performance and effort. If a person exceeds expectations in their job, they should be compensated fairly. This aligns with the principle of justice that Catholic social teaching emphasizes.
Growing up, I was raised in a Christian household. My mother, a divorced Black woman, raised three daughters on her own. Her sole income came from Walmart. She worked long hours, came home exhausted, cooked dinner, picked us up from school, and repeated that cycle for over 20 years. A Black woman working at Walmart earns only 64 to 70% of what a white man makes. That means if a white man earns $60,000 a year, she would earn just $42,000. Now, as a college student searching for jobs, I’ve realized that my starting salary is about the same as what my mother earned at Walmart—despite her decades of hard work. Even after all her loyal years at Walmart, my mother began working fewer hours when she was diagnosed with a health condition—the same condition that took the life of my sister’s ex-best friend’s mother. To make ends meet, she took on a second job as a substitute teacher. Now she works as a peer educator, earning even less than she did at Walmart, juggling both jobs just to keep up with the bills.
Whenever she thinks about spending money on me—whether for a graduation dress, a party, or a school event—I tell her no, because I know how hard she’s struggling. Why would I let her money go to waste? It’s gotten to the point where I hesitate to spend my own money. Whether it's something I need or don't need, I pause before buying, afraid of wasting something so scarce. Money is just a material object, yet it divides genders and harms families. It makes you wonder—would life be different if women and men were paid equally? Would my mother still have her heart condition if pay were fair?
In the perspective of catholic social teaching promotes the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. Subsidiarity emphasizes decision-making at the lowest level of society, which is often where marginalized groups, such as women, are found. Solidarity stresses our responsibility to care for one another, and the Church advocates for the poor and oppressed, acknowledging systemic inequalities. The gender wage gap contradicts these principles. It fails to uphold subsidiarity because it does not address the struggles of women in the workplace. It also lacks solidarity, as it prioritizes men’s financial success while disregarding women’s equal efforts. Ultimately, it perpetuates inequality, as women work just as hard as men yet do not receive the same rewards.Meanwhile, Reinhold Niebuhr’s philosophy on moral responsibility is also relevant to this issue. He argues that even in a world full of injustice, humans are responsible for making ethical decisions that benefit both themselves and others. The gender wage gap and workplace discrimination illustrate a failure in moral responsibility. Paying women less, forcing them to leave jobs after childbirth, and limiting their access to opportunities are unethical choices that harm not just women but their families as well. Women struggling to pay rent, support children, or maintain financial stability are direct victims of these choices. According to Niebuhr, society has an obligation to correct such injustices by making ethical decisions that promote fairness and equality. Addressing wage disparities is not just an economic issue—it is a moral one.
IThe gender wage gap is a significant problem worldwide, but we can take small steps toward solving the issue. As mentioned in the journal, we could start at the community level by advocating for government policies that prevent gender-based pay inequality. Additionally, we can create programs to support unemployed citizens by providing financial assistance and helping them find jobs.Companies can also implement systems that reward and compensate employees based on the quality and quantity of their work. If there are concerns that raising women's wages could lead to inflation, a possible solution could be adjusting men's salaries and redistributing the remaining funds to promote pay equity.
In conclusion, gender pay gaps are harmful to women and their families. They prevent women from earning enough to support themselves and families, discourage them from applying for high-paying jobs, and make it difficult for them to find employment after maternity leave. From an ethical standpoint, gender pay gaps are unjust and perpetuate systemic inequality. As a community, we should work together to promote equality and improve the quality of life for women and their families.
Works Cited
Kochhar, Rakesh. “The Enduring Grip of the Gender Pay Gap.” Pew Research Center, 1 Mar. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/03/01/the-enduring-grip-of-the-gender-pay-gap/
Patel, Prachi. “Women Less Likely to Be Shown Ads for High-Paying Jobs.” IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2021, spectrum.ieee.org/women-less-likely-to-be-shown-ads-for-highpaying-jobs.
Patel, Prachi. “Women Less Likely to Be Shown Ads for High-Paying Jobs.” IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2021, spectrum.ieee.org/women-less-likely-to-be-shown-ads-for-highpaying-jobs.