Are you responsible for creating a gender wage gap?

We know there is a gender wage gap.

However, as parents, do we ever ask if we may be responsible for creating such a gap?

For example, do we subconsciously encourage our girls to go into the "soft skills" occupations that traditionally earn less than men (early childcare, hairdressing, hospitality) by praising their caring natures and mothering instincts?

Do you say to your daughters: "you look after your brother so beautifully that you would be a great nurse" or do you say "you look after your brother so beautifully that you could be a top doctor"?

You know the answer. We know these subliminal messages may create our children's view of the future, set their frames of reference and above all; create stereotypes.

By the age of 7, children have a vision of the world, biases are created and stereotypes are forming. As parents we don't have long to create a vision of their future world, where anything is possible, tell our girls that their careers are not preordained.

Schieder and Gould observe that:

"By the time young women graduate from high school and enter college, they already evaluate their career opportunities differently than young men do"

What can we do to make sure our children explore all career opportunities, stand up for their rights and do what they are good at, not what society expects?

Firstly be a role model:

Talk often and openly about equal rights and non-discriminatory practices (as much as your child can understand given their age). Set the scene that equality is in all shapes and sizes; this will transfer to what children can expect in their future workplaces.

Reward the correct behaviour:

At work, factual not emotional behaviour is rewarded. When teenage years roll along, reward the robust banter that encourages debate, not emotional blackmail. This does no one any good, especially women in the workplace.

Talk about what women deserve:

Girls learn very early about what they deserve from this world. Shape their thinking, so they know that they deserve to be recognised at school, at hobbies, in relationships and when they do something well. This builds an expectation that women are valued, this then translates to building their self-esteem; a handy tool when you negotiate wage rises :)

A career is about lifelong re-engineering:

Tell your daughters, they can adapt, change and have multiple careers in their lifetime. Build pictures in their minds about being flexible and taking job risks. Talk openly about what you would do differently if you had your career again (don't whinge). Be reflective and thoughtful - this shows your children that you have to grab opportunities - not waste their time in low paying, dead end jobs.

Be their mentor:

Talk openly about your career challenges, successes, and failures. Mentor your daughters to be the best they can be. You are their most profound teacher. Encourage them to get educated, speak up, learn new and varied skills. These are life lessons and will build robust women who will not tolerate lower pay for the same work.

Expose your children to different workplaces:

Let your kids go to work with dad, mum, aunties, cousins. Expose them to all sorts of options early - this will help them widen their choices - they have to see the real thing.

As a parent, you have the opportunity to shape strong women with clear identities and values who won't accept discriminatory practices and unequal pay. The power is in your hands.

“Women’s work” and the gender pay gap; How discrimination, societal norms, and other forces affect women’s occupational choices—and their pay

Report • By Jessica Schieder and Elise Gould • July 20, 2016