Gender Pay-Gap: Utilising Multivariate Approach to Understand the Causes of Unequal Pay Between Men and Women in South Africa

Purpose: The gender pay gap in South Africa has greatly reduced since the implementation of the Employment Equity Act in 1998. However, there is still a pay gap that cannot be sufficiently explained and addressed by government leaders and scholars. Scholars, policymakers, the radical left, and feminists have carefully highlighted and addressed what is considered to be the major causes, such as segregation of women, women's stereotypes, marginalization of women, wage penalties due to time away from work, child nurturing responsibilities given to women, and inequality in salaries and remunerations. However, the World Bank reported that from 2007 on, the gender pay gap in South Africa was no longer showing any sign of reduction. It was stagnant and thereafter oscillating. As such the purpose of this research is to investigate the causes of the stagnation and the oscillation, and to provide recommendations. Theoretical Framework: This research used multivariate analysis theory to make further contributions on the causes of gender pay inequality in South Africa in order to address the stagnation and oscillation of the existing pay gap. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research method used is qualitative approach. The research design comprises men and women who are already in the work industry in both private and public sector. Findings: This research found that gender pay gap in South Africa is caused by women’s family-career crisis as a main contributor, followed by interests and personality traits, equality of opportunity and career selection. Research Implications: This research paper gives light to further research in Women’s family-career crisis as it seems to be the major contributor to gender pay gap in South Africa. The assessment of how impactful family-career crisis is on gender pay gap is also essential in order to understand the magnitude of it on gender pay gap in South Africa. Originality/Value: This research paper found significant causes of gender pay gap such as ‘family career-crisis’ that shows to heavily contribute to the gender pay in South Africa. This might further give clarity to the governments on the existence of gender pay gap. Moreover this research may help in redefining the government policies on the approach of gender pay gap.