Gender Wage Gap and Gender Attitudes in Ukraine

Abstract

This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the gender inequality on the labor market in Ukraine focusing on the two aspects: the gender wage gap and gender attitudes of people. An extensive survey of the previous literature on gender inequality in Ukraine is provided and the main trends on the labor market in the country and dynamics of the gender wage gap, are discussed. The analysis of the ULMS panel data 2003–2012 using the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique allows assessing the gender wage gap in each of the available survey years. Furthermore, analysis of the European Values Study 2008 and the Factorial study 2009 gives some insights into gender attitudes of the population. The raw gender wage gap in Ukraine remained at a relatively high level of 27–33% in 2003–2012 and only a small part of it is a result of the differences in endowments (education, work experience, economic sector etc.) between men and women. The discriminatory practices may be nurtured by the respective gender attitudes. Although the population of Ukraine holds moderately traditional gender attitudes and to some extent accepts the egalitarian views, people generally consider lower wages for female employees as justified.