Straightforward or Complex: The Media’s Influence on Wage Gap Perception

How does language influence our understanding of complex social issues being presented by the media as straightforward?

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The reluctance of men to acknowledge that they often have an advantage over women is not uncommon (McIntosh). Like this phenomenon of male privilege, white privilege[1] and other forms of inequality stress the minor disadvantages to otherwise privileged bodies, and downplay those who have less advantage (McIntosh). This form of privilege confers dominance because of one’s sex or race and highlights the invisible forms privilege can take. Many fail to recognize this privilege, as it is at times invisible. Invisibility allows it to be unquantifiable in many areas of everyday life. However, the privilege afforded to white males in the job market of North America can be quantifiably demonstrated. Statistics show a clear lack of continuity between groups of marginalized people in terms of such things as equal work and pay (Pay Equality Commission of Canada). These individuals encompass many genders and races and the extent to which this marginalization affects yearly income varies from group to group.

The wage gap is a complex, systematic issue which exists between different groups of marginalized peoples. It stems from institutional racism[2] throughout western culture. How can such a complex issue be addressed? A group of young girls, one of whom was named Kari Schott, took this challenge. At a Utah high school, they used a high school bake sale to bring light to the most rudimentary form of the wage gap and how it influences members of marginalized groups. Based on statistics about wages in the job market, those identifying as male bodies could purchase a chocolate chip cookie for one dollar, while those identifying as female bodies for 77 cents. Despite being a simple approach to bring awareness to this issue, it began conversations throughout the school and community, and was picked up by the Utah branch of the news broadcasting station ABC. In this piece, a fairly well spoken young adult attempted to convey the issue at hand, which is much greater than just male versus female inequality. The media uses language to simplify complex issues like this with a lack of intersectional approach, gender conformities and power structures.

The piece brings up many issues surrounding gender inequality and wage gap, but generally lacks an intersectional[3] perspective. It focuses on statistics comparing people of a predominately white society, through voices of predominately white bodies. Kresiman and Rangel, examined wages and employment for black males of different skin tones. They found that gaps between the light-skinned black workers and whites widened with experience. Earning differentials varied over times between those of varying skin tone, and evident wage market differentials arise. The study is useful as it demonstrates clearly the gap that exists, but it fails to address the issue of gender variation. It can be seen that the wage gap exists between those of the varying genders and same skin colour, but like the report, this study does not contribute to the discourse of the interlocking factors influencing the gap. All marginalized groups experience the wage gap, but it is the differences within those varying groups of marginalized peoples that are not addressed. In 2013, men of colour made 75.1 cents to every dollar a white man made, while Hispanic women made 67.1 cents in comparison to the men of colour (Bureau of Labor Statistics Canada). The dualistic approach seen in Kresiman and Rangel’s study mirrors the language used by ABC to present the wage gap to the public.

Language is key as it gives perspective to the issue at hand. The reporter on the ABC story, Randall Carlisle, uses simplistic and straightforward language throughout, for example, “Schott and her friends from the Young Democrats club sold some cookies, raised some money and created controversy, but they got their point across (Carlisle)”. This furthers the dismissal of the issue at hand. The matter of fact tone with which this statement is made mirrors the depth and breath of the report. There is no conclusion to the report, and it ends on the note that Schott’s father approves of the work she and the other members of the organization Young Democrats Club are doing.

The use of language demonstrates the extent to which the media still conforms to the power structure that exists between many marginalized and privileged groups. Carlisle chooses to close the news piece by mentioning the approval of Schott’s presumably white, upper-middle class father. Ironic within itself, this produces a cyclic system wherein those in positions of power must provide approval in order for the oppressed to raise any awareness. Reflective of many second wave feminist mentalities, this provides a backwards message to the audience of the piece. A teenage boy Carlisle chooses to interview reinforces the concluding statement: “I just don’t believe the statistics they’re using are correct. I would love to have a debate with them, about what they believe in (Carlisle)”. The use of the quote brings back the theories outlined by Mcintosh; groups of privileged individuals will not recognize the privilege they posses in relation to another’s oppression.

The report itself builds on gender binaries[4] as the consideration of those who do not identify as female or male in the standard manner are denied identification. The statistics for those identifying as transgendered, transsexual, or inter-sexed are not taken into consideration and therefore the voices of these groups of people are silenced. A power structure[5] forms as those who do not fall into the traditional categories are denied recognition. Those who are interviewed simply reiterate the points mentioned by the reporter himself, lacking any depth in what is being said. The media as a popular cultural outlet has represented the story in a way that avoids addressing issues outside of the income inequality between genders mentioned before.

The wage gap is not simply an issue of gender, nor is it an issue of race or economic standing. It is an issue of these intersecting factors influencing the extent to which marginalized groups are provided lesser economic wealth. Perception and appropriate recognition by the media hinder the issue at hand, raising the question: who really has the authority to accurately address the gender wage gap?

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[1] Social privileges that benefit white people in western countries beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political or economic circumstances

[2] A system of inequality based on race

[3] The study of intersections between forms or systems of oppression, domination or discrimination

[4] The classification of sex and gender into two distinct, opposite and disconnected forms of masculine and feminine

[5] the hierarchical interrelationships existing within a controlling group

References:

Carlisle, Randall. “Gender Equality Bake Sale Causes Stir at Utah High School.” N.p., 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 30 Mar. 2015. <http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/gender-equality-bake-sale-causes-stir-at-utah-high/10246/0gE6cCkPA0mvNkLZEjyO4Q&gt;.

McIntosh, Peggy. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack.” (1989) n. pag. Web. 4 April. 2015.

Kreisman, Daniel, and Marcos A. Rangel. “On the Blurring of the Color Line: Wages and Employment for Black Males of Different Skin Tones.” The Review of Economics and Statistics 97.1 (2015): 1-13. Print.

“The Gender Wage Gap.” Pay Equality Commission. Government of Ontario, Apr. 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2015. <http://www.payequity.gov.on.ca/en/about/pubs/genderwage/wagegap.php&gt;.

“The Wage Gap, by Gender and Race.” Infoplease. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 03 Nov. 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2015. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0882775.html&gt;.

“The Gender Wage Gap.” Pay Equality Commission. Government of Ontario, Apr. 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2015. <http://www.payequity.gov.on.ca/en/about/pubs/genderwage/wagegap.php&gt;.