Unequal job opportunities for women

When someone tells you that women are trailing behind man in undertaking managerial posts, what will be the first thing that comes to your mind? If you agree to that question, you are not alone. Despite the booming economy and tight labour market in Singapore, female are still viewed as a manpower liability thus reducing their job opportunities and pay as compared to men.

I chanced upon an article "Job opportunities, pay not the same for women" (Straits Times, March 3, 2007 by Serene Goh ).

This article depicted how female are still trailing behind men in having equal opportunities and pay in Singapore and compared it with the situation in other countries. In this article, the aim of the writer is to raise awareness and understanding of the discrimination faced by the majority of the women in their career.

After reading the article, it is disappointing on how Singapore has fared in a recent World Economic Forum report. Statistics from the report showed that Singapore ranked a miserable 65 out of 115 in instilling gender equality despite women being better educated nowadays.

I am aware that women have lesser opportunities than men in jobs however upon reading the article, I am appalled by the extend and the severity that it is happening. The allegation made by Professor Alan Manning that women continue choosing family over career is entirely false and it is bias and unfair to make such judgmental comments about them.

I understand that when a women is pregnant or is having maternity leave, they would not be able to show up for work and for some of them, they would quit their job to care for their children. Nonetheless, many will still continue working after their maternity leave is over. Hence it is a unfair saying that they are incapable of working after pregnancy.

Also, one's preference on whether to be pregnant or not is strictly personal. We should not deprive capable women from job opportunities just because they have given birth. I personally feel that gender should not be one of the criteria in the allocation of job opportunities. It should solely be based on merit.

With better education, women are now more equipped and just like men, they are equally as capable and in some cases even better as based on a survey recently conducted. However, they would only be able to showcase their capability and contribute to society only if they are given the opportunity to enhance their ability.

By discriminating women and not grant them opportunities in which they deserve. What you did was shunning capable people the chance to showcase their ability and contribute even more in their job.

While I accept that everyone has their own view on why men still has more job opportunities, I feel that the writer has made a strong point that women are not treated fair enough and probably some of the false assumptions people relate women with.