Automation has the potential to improve gender equality at work
Debra
Howcroft, Jill Rubery, The Conversation, June 11, 2018
If predictions
are right, automation will transform work as we know it.
are right, automation will transform work as we know it.
But it’s
difficult to know exactly which – and how many – jobs will be affected.
Although there is a huge debate
over just these questions, one area frequently overlooked is how automation
will affect the prospect of gender equality.
difficult to know exactly which – and how many – jobs will be affected.
Although there is a huge debate
over just these questions, one area frequently overlooked is how automation
will affect the prospect of gender equality.
Right
now, there are considerable differences in pay, employment levels, and the
types of activities that men and women perform
in the workplace. As women are often expected to take more
responsibility for care at home, there are fewer job opportunities. This is
because the current job market lacks the flexibility needed by women who are
expected to juggle caring and working responsibilities. These biases will lead
to a future of work that remains unequal. Where bias goes in, bias comes out.
now, there are considerable differences in pay, employment levels, and the
types of activities that men and women perform
in the workplace. As women are often expected to take more
responsibility for care at home, there are fewer job opportunities. This is
because the current job market lacks the flexibility needed by women who are
expected to juggle caring and working responsibilities. These biases will lead
to a future of work that remains unequal. Where bias goes in, bias comes out.
But this
doesn’t have to be the case. Male and female roles and identities are
constructed – not fixed – and so the future distribution of work is not fixed
either. If jobs get scarcer while productivity increases, we need to ask how
the rewards are going to be shared and we need to rethink the structures of
employment and the forms of work before it’s too late. Here are some
alternatives for shaping a more gender equal society.
doesn’t have to be the case. Male and female roles and identities are
constructed – not fixed – and so the future distribution of work is not fixed
either. If jobs get scarcer while productivity increases, we need to ask how
the rewards are going to be shared and we need to rethink the structures of
employment and the forms of work before it’s too late. Here are some
alternatives for shaping a more gender equal society.
Less
working time
working time
While studies
paint a fairly dismal picture of a world where there is less demand for
workers, they don’t consider working time. If automation increases
productivity, the average working week could be radically reduced, creating
more free time for all. Of course, if we are to enjoy increased leisure time,
we still need to earn a decent wage. So any reduction in working hours
shouldn’t mean a reduction in salary.
paint a fairly dismal picture of a world where there is less demand for
workers, they don’t consider working time. If automation increases
productivity, the average working week could be radically reduced, creating
more free time for all. Of course, if we are to enjoy increased leisure time,
we still need to earn a decent wage. So any reduction in working hours
shouldn’t mean a reduction in salary.
Given
that part-time and low-paid workers are predominantly
female a reduced working week with a decent salary could enable a
more equal distribution of wage work. Rather than revert to the norm of men
earning a family wage while women care for family members, more free time for
both women and men could create the conditions necessary for a more equal
sharing of care.
that part-time and low-paid workers are predominantly
female a reduced working week with a decent salary could enable a
more equal distribution of wage work. Rather than revert to the norm of men
earning a family wage while women care for family members, more free time for
both women and men could create the conditions necessary for a more equal
sharing of care.
Equalise
unpaid labour
unpaid labour
A woman’s
position in the labour market is inextricably linked to the home. In the UK,
42% of carers are men and 58% are women.
If we are able to reduce the working week, thanks to advances in automation,
then we could support more innovative approaches towards domestic and care
arrangements.
position in the labour market is inextricably linked to the home. In the UK,
42% of carers are men and 58% are women.
If we are able to reduce the working week, thanks to advances in automation,
then we could support more innovative approaches towards domestic and care
arrangements.
New forms
of flexible working that are no longer subject to the whim of employers but
give workers control over hours, remote working, breaks and time off could help
equalise household roles so that women and men can share earning and caring.
of flexible working that are no longer subject to the whim of employers but
give workers control over hours, remote working, breaks and time off could help
equalise household roles so that women and men can share earning and caring.
If men
and women became equal participants in domestic and work roles this would
challenge expectations about who is responsible for paid and unpaid labour.
Women would no longer be perceived as primary carers and low earners.
and women became equal participants in domestic and work roles this would
challenge expectations about who is responsible for paid and unpaid labour.
Women would no longer be perceived as primary carers and low earners.
We must
begin valuing care work
begin valuing care work
If
automation increases productivity and creates more wealth, while reducing the
number of jobs, we’ll need to find some way of redistributing that wealth in a
way that benefits society. One constructive approach would be to more highly
reward those undervalued jobs, such as care work, that are crucial for our
society.
automation increases productivity and creates more wealth, while reducing the
number of jobs, we’ll need to find some way of redistributing that wealth in a
way that benefits society. One constructive approach would be to more highly
reward those undervalued jobs, such as care work, that are crucial for our
society.
At the
moment, the jobs that are profitable for capital, such as working in finance,
gain high status while care work remains sidelined. All the while, many western
countries face demographic
time bombs. We’re in dire need of more care workers to look after
the growing number of elderly people. But our social, economic and political
system is structured in a way that doesn’t value care work properly.
moment, the jobs that are profitable for capital, such as working in finance,
gain high status while care work remains sidelined. All the while, many western
countries face demographic
time bombs. We’re in dire need of more care workers to look after
the growing number of elderly people. But our social, economic and political
system is structured in a way that doesn’t value care work properly.
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The
majority of carers in the UK are women. Shutterstock |
Women
dominate the care sector. So when we recognise that some forms of
work should be fairly rewarded for their social value, rather than an ability
to generate profit, gender equity will be improved.
dominate the care sector. So when we recognise that some forms of
work should be fairly rewarded for their social value, rather than an ability
to generate profit, gender equity will be improved.
Technology
can also improve the care industry through new innovations. Assistive
technologies, such as the therapeutic
robot seal, which is used to help care those with dementia, have the
potential to address some of the challenges of the care sector. But this requires
substantial investment in technology rather than defaulting to the norm of
zero-hours contracts and low-cost labour. Instead of investing only the bare
minimum in care, the government needs to direct wealth created through
automation towards the care sector. This includes socially and financially
recognising the value care workers better and investing more heavily in
technological solutions that can help the care sector.
can also improve the care industry through new innovations. Assistive
technologies, such as the therapeutic
robot seal, which is used to help care those with dementia, have the
potential to address some of the challenges of the care sector. But this requires
substantial investment in technology rather than defaulting to the norm of
zero-hours contracts and low-cost labour. Instead of investing only the bare
minimum in care, the government needs to direct wealth created through
automation towards the care sector. This includes socially and financially
recognising the value care workers better and investing more heavily in
technological solutions that can help the care sector.
End
gender segregation at work
gender segregation at work
If job
losses affect lower-skilled workers, who often tend to be women, we need to
focus on upskilling and retraining. A more inclusive and ambitious education
system could open up possibilities for those pursuing a career change or
needing second chances.
losses affect lower-skilled workers, who often tend to be women, we need to
focus on upskilling and retraining. A more inclusive and ambitious education
system could open up possibilities for those pursuing a career change or
needing second chances.
Challenging
gender segregation at work also requires a radical reorientation of STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and medicine) occupations, given the growing
demand for technical knowledge and skills. In the UK, levels of female
employment in the IT industry are decreasing and women make up only 17% of the
workforce.
gender segregation at work also requires a radical reorientation of STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and medicine) occupations, given the growing
demand for technical knowledge and skills. In the UK, levels of female
employment in the IT industry are decreasing and women make up only 17% of the
workforce.
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|
Women are
seriously underrepresented in the STEM industry. Shutterstock |
Various
government initiatives have failed to make the STEM industry more gender equal.
This is because they are based on the assumption that increasing female
participation will miraculously transform the industry – an “add women and
stir” approach. “Brotopia”
and frat house culture, particularly in Silicon Valley companies means that
those women who are employed in high-tech firms tend to vote with their feet,
with more leaving
than are being recruited.
government initiatives have failed to make the STEM industry more gender equal.
This is because they are based on the assumption that increasing female
participation will miraculously transform the industry – an “add women and
stir” approach. “Brotopia”
and frat house culture, particularly in Silicon Valley companies means that
those women who are employed in high-tech firms tend to vote with their feet,
with more leaving
than are being recruited.
Reports
that Uber have
just paid $10m to settle a class action concerning discrimination
suggest that much work needs to be done to tackle discriminatory work
practices. If the sector is to become more inclusive, a radical reorientation
of working culture is needed. The absence of women workers is particularly
problematic if they have practically no voice in the development of major
technological innovations that might transform our future.
that Uber have
just paid $10m to settle a class action concerning discrimination
suggest that much work needs to be done to tackle discriminatory work
practices. If the sector is to become more inclusive, a radical reorientation
of working culture is needed. The absence of women workers is particularly
problematic if they have practically no voice in the development of major
technological innovations that might transform our future.
Although
much of the discussion on automation focuses on dystopian outcomes, this is far
from certain. Debating the future of work can actually provide us an
opportunity to map out a more equal society.
much of the discussion on automation focuses on dystopian outcomes, this is far
from certain. Debating the future of work can actually provide us an
opportunity to map out a more equal society.
