Abstract
Around the world, women’s work is undervalued and underpaid. Wage gaps along gender lines are linked to how cultures and societies understand women’s gender and work roles. Gender norms and expectations shape what we see as “women’s work.” In turn, this has a direct effect on the types of occupations women choose. Gender occupation segregation pushes women into some of the least valued jobs in society. This practice leads to pay inequity and other discriminatory practices. In addition, gender disparities in terms of who owns most of the world’s wealth and property do not correspond with the amount of paid and unpaid labor women do in society. Women in the paid labor force face several barriers such as sexual harassment, the glass ceiling, and the sticky floor, all in addition to pay inequity. However, women are speaking out and actively trying to improve employment conditions and advance opportunities for women. This chapter provides a global perspective of women’s employment and wealth trends. This chapter identifies patterns and current issues regarding women’s employment as well as identifies progress and future work to be done for gender equality in the workplace.