Women feel pinch of male-centered workplaces

By Bahk Eun-ji

Female new recruits get less job satisfaction than their male counterparts due to male-centered workplaces, research shows.

The Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) surveyed 247 female and 269 male employees at 300 corporations with less than two years’ experience.

Only 40.5 percent of female newcomers answered “yes” when asked if they are satisfied with their work. But 52 percent of male new employees responded positively.

More than 50 percent of male new recruits said they “work passionately every day,” but only 35.2 percent of female new recruits answered that way.

The survey found that women employees find it hard to feel rewarded at work where they cannot get equal opportunities. Male workers are usually offered core tasks, while many female workers are often given assistant work.

Only 30.4 percent of female workers said their company made the most of their ability compared with 43.5 percent of male new employees.

“The research shows female workers think the corporate culture is male-centered and companies provide less support to female workers than male employees,” a KRIVET researcher said.