So, you’re a Gen X woman who’s navigated careers, caregiving, kids (the two and/or four-legged kind), and let’s be honest, probably a few HR meetings where you had to explain that yes, you deserve that raise. If you’ve ever looked at your paycheck and thought, “This feels… light,” you’re not imagining things.
Welcome to the undervalued world of “women’s work.”
Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the common belief – at least in white, middle-class circles – was that a woman’s place was in the home. But that so-called “ideal” didn’t apply to everyone. Women of color – especially Black, Indigenous, Latina, and immigrant women – were working long before it was socially acceptable for white women to do so.
If a woman did work outside the house, it usually wasn’t about chasing a dream career, it was about putting food on the table. And the list of “acceptable” jobs was short: teacher, nurse, seamstress, or domestic help. For many women of color, even those roles were off the table because of discrimination. Instead, they were often found doing the hardest, most undervalued work—cleaning homes, raising other people’s kids, working in fields or factories.
And here’s the kicker: these jobs weren’t low-paying because they were “easy” (spoiler alert: they weren’t). They were low-paying because they were done by women. And when those jobs were done by women of color? They paid even less. That double whammy of racism and sexism set the stage for the wage gap we’re still trying to close today.
Historian and sociologist Myra Strober noted that when women enter a field in large numbers, the pay for that field tends to go down. When men enter a field en masse? Pay usually goes up.
Take teaching, for example. Once considered a prestigious profession for men, pay and status dropped as more women entered the field in the late 1800s. Nurses? Same story. Once viewed as a charitable extension of caregiving, it took decades – and wars – for people to see it as a real profession deserving of competitive wages.
So Why Hasn’t That Changed?
While women have flooded the workforce, the wage structure still reflects outdated gender norms. “Soft skills” like empathy, multitasking, and collaboration – traits that are critical in caregiving and support roles – are often considered “inherent” in women, not learned or specialized. Therefore, employers undervalue them.
Even now, fields where women make up more than 70% of the workforce pay less than male-dominated professions with similar education and skill requirements.
- In 2023, women working full-time earned 6% of what men earned.
- In some of the largest female-dominated occupations, women earn up to 7 cents less on the dollar compared to men.
- Over a 30-year career, the gender pay gap can amount to approximately $500,000 in lost earnings per woman.
What You Can Do About It
Get Loud About Your Salary
Use tools like Payscale and Salary.com to benchmark your pay. Don’t be afraid to bring receipts to your next review. Asking for more isn’t pushy—it’s survival.
Max Out What You Can
Especially if you’re single, your future you is counting on today-you to plan ahead. Max out 401(k)s or IRAs if you can. Every little bit counts more when the compound interest fairy works her magic.
Diversify Your Money Moves
Don’t rely solely on employer retirement plans. Open a brokerage account, build an emergency fund, and consider things like HSAs, Roth IRAs, and – if you’re feeling spicy – real estate or side hustles.
Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan
Do a “pay gap audit” of your financial plan. A financial advisor can help you model different outcomes, especially if you’ve taken career breaks, switched jobs, or missed out on matching contributions.
Plan for a Long(er) Life
Gen X women are projected to live well into their 80s and 90s. Make sure your financial plan includes long-term care options, healthcare coverage, and a retirement income strategy.
The game may have been rigged from the start, but you’ve got tools, tenacity, and – let’s be honest – a little bit of Gen X grit. You didn’t come this far to leave your financial future to chance. Let’s build a plan that finally gives your work – and your wealth – the value it deserves. CLICK HERE to start the conversation.
