One in Three Britons Under 35 Believe Unequal Pay is Acceptable, Survey Finds

A recent survey indicates that one-third of Britons under 35 believe it is reasonable for women to be paid less than men for performing the same job. The study, which polled 2,000 adults, found that 19% of all respondents had no issue with unequal pay, but this figure rose to 34% among those under 35.

Psychologist Dr. Nihara Krause stated that action is necessary to prevent decades of progress in workplace equality from being undermined. She suggested that messaging received by young people online, particularly from the 'manosphere' and influencers like Andrew Tate, contributes to these views. According to Dr. Krause, many young men feel disadvantaged or marginalized and may see this online culture as aspirational, leading to a focus on appearance, masculinity, and misogyny.

Dr. Veronica Lamarche, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Essex, commented that young people may be drawn to the 'manosphere' for validation. She explained that isolated online communities can create a false consensus, making users believe their views are widespread. Lamarche added that visible platforms for misogynistic ideas, such as those provided by influencers, can normalize these viewpoints, potentially influencing perceptions like the 'tradwife' narrative.

This trend could undermine gender equality through subtle biases, such as offering women lower starting salaries or discriminatory hiring practices against pregnant women or mothers, Lamarche warned.

The survey, conducted for Fair Pay UK in anticipation of Equal Pay Day, highlights concerns more than 50 years after legislation outlawed sex-based pay differences for equal work. The poll also revealed that nearly one in five respondents agreed that men should be paid more for working unsociable hours or performing more physical labor. Additionally, almost one in six believed it was fair for women to receive lower wages if they worked part-time.

Nate Barber, lead lawyer at Fair Pay UK, described the findings as a "stark warning" that progress on equal pay cannot be assumed. He expressed concern that younger generations are more accepting of unequal pay for work of equal value, emphasizing that equal pay is a legal right. Fair Pay UK represents thousands of supermarket workers in ongoing equal-pay claims against retailers like Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons, arguing that historically female-dominated roles have been underpaid compared to male-dominated warehouse roles despite being of equal value.