Women with MBAs still not advancing as quickly as men
MONTREAL (CUP) — A new study is showing that Canadian women graduating from leading business schools start out with lower salaries then their male counterparts with a gap that widens over the course of their careers.
The research, conducted by the non-profit women's opportunity organization Catalyst, indicates that women graduating with a master of business administration degree will advance slower than men and earn less throughout their careers.
“Even (after) decades of creating opportunities for women, inequity is still entrenched in the workplace, and it starts with womens' first jobs,” said Christine Silva, director of research at Catalyst and co-author of the study.
Silva's research showed that biases in the job market begin at entry-level positions. She said that certain assumptions about the roles of women, their aspirations for a family, and other stereotypes can play a role in the way management views female employees. This can stunt or slow down a woman's progress in the company.
The study explains that 40 per cent of the workforce is female, but women represent less than 14 per cent of corporate executives of top global companies, and only three per cent at Fortune 500 companies.
The problem is not that top Canadian companies don't want to invest in training women - many businesses have implemented programs to increase women “inclusivity.” Silva said the problem starts with their first job, where women with MBAs will often work at entry level whereas men will receive jobs in mid-level positions.
Silva also said that 25 per cent of women left their first jobs due to difficulties with the manager, compared to only 16 per cent of men and on average women earned $4,600 less in their first job than men.
Companies are willing to invest more time and research to pinpoint the problem and increase women's role in businesses, Silva said. But as of now, the study points to a problem with equality in the workplace.
“Seeing women with MBAs starting from behind is a problem and giving it time is not working.”
The study drew findings from 4,143 respondents who had completed full-time master of business administration programs currently working in full-time jobs. They came from 26 business schools across three continents, having graduated between 1996 and 2007.
The research, conducted by the non-profit women's opportunity organization Catalyst, indicates that women graduating with a master of business administration degree will advance slower than men and earn less throughout their careers.
“Even (after) decades of creating opportunities for women, inequity is still entrenched in the workplace, and it starts with womens' first jobs,” said Christine Silva, director of research at Catalyst and co-author of the study.
Silva's research showed that biases in the job market begin at entry-level positions. She said that certain assumptions about the roles of women, their aspirations for a family, and other stereotypes can play a role in the way management views female employees. This can stunt or slow down a woman's progress in the company.
The study explains that 40 per cent of the workforce is female, but women represent less than 14 per cent of corporate executives of top global companies, and only three per cent at Fortune 500 companies.
The problem is not that top Canadian companies don't want to invest in training women - many businesses have implemented programs to increase women “inclusivity.” Silva said the problem starts with their first job, where women with MBAs will often work at entry level whereas men will receive jobs in mid-level positions.
Silva also said that 25 per cent of women left their first jobs due to difficulties with the manager, compared to only 16 per cent of men and on average women earned $4,600 less in their first job than men.
Companies are willing to invest more time and research to pinpoint the problem and increase women's role in businesses, Silva said. But as of now, the study points to a problem with equality in the workplace.
“Seeing women with MBAs starting from behind is a problem and giving it time is not working.”
The study drew findings from 4,143 respondents who had completed full-time master of business administration programs currently working in full-time jobs. They came from 26 business schools across three continents, having graduated between 1996 and 2007.
