Unequal work – selected aspects on women’s economic activity on the example of the Pomeranian voivodeship

Abstract

The issue of economic activity of women is an important subject of interest of EU and national institutions, mainly due to the lack of symmetry between men and women in terms of employment, remuneration and access to managerial positions. The constant presence of these differences, despite the existing legal regulations, is treated as an element of economic discrimination against women. In the study of economic discrimination of women the analysis also includes the division of work among family members, the impact of the decision about having children on the continuation of the professional career, and the provision of a sufficient number of day care centers for children and dependents. This paper presents basic policy regulations against unequal treatment in economic life and then illustrates selected areas of economic activity of women in the Pomeranian voivodeship. The carried out analysis allows to draw the following conclusions:

• There are differences in remuneration, which in the long run affects social security, pension rights and the risk of poverty among women.
• Women are overrepresented in the area of part-time employment.
• The unequal division of caring duties and housework between women and men has an impact on the career of women.
• Women are underrepresented in high paid jobs and decision-making positions.