Today is International Woman’s day – March 8th. Israel is a democratic country, that officially gives equal rights to anyone, without discrimination of any kind.
Officially, gender, race and religion do not play a part in an individual’s chances to succeed in our society. Unfortunately, women don’t have the same opportunities as men.
Feminists’ organizations in Israel usually protest against sexist commercials on television, forced prostitution (inc. trafficking) and against indecent acts by senior politicians. All these issues are important. In our modern capitalist society the most important issue is MONEY.
There is a huge gap between men and women’s incomes in Israel: The average man makes 20% more money than a woman (Hebrew link). When comparing people with an academic degree, the gap reaches 30%. Too often, men are paid more than women in the same position and in the same company. Women also have less opportunities for promotion and are in lower rated jobs.
I find this inequality in opportunity and and inequality in wages very frustrating. This issue demands serious protests. I know that it happens in other Western countries, but I live here and I don’t like it!
Luckily for me, I’m a man. Except solidarity with women and values of equality, I also care because this inequality has an impact also on men as well. Women are paid lower wages and work less in order to take care of their children. The men are expected to work many hours. It is not only a chauvinist issue, it’s also a matter of competitive capitalist society we live in.