If Greenland were to join the European Union, it would shockingly rank as the country with the highest pay gap between men and women. Following closely behind is Latvia, where men earned, on average, 19 percent more than their female counterparts in 2023.
“This is a significant issue,” states Britta Keldsen, a lawyer and interim spokesperson for the Equality Council.
Statistics from Greenland reveal that men’s average incomes exceed women’s by 20 percent, a trend that spans municipal borders, age groups, and educational backgrounds.
Marie Kathrine Poppel, a former PhD researcher at Ilisimatusarfik who has delved deeply into this issue, attributes the wage disparity partly to the types of jobs that women tend to occupy, which are often lower-paying. “In the construction industry and private businesses, the ratio of men to women is ten to one,” she explains.
Additionally, Keldsen highlights that positions on fishing trawlers, known for their lucrative salaries, are almost exclusively held by men. In stark contrast, many women work in education and nursing homes, sectors known for their lower pay.
Poppel further notes that women are also more likely to take maternity leave, which can affect their overall salary packages. “Depending on their position, their wages may be adjusted accordingly,” she points out.
### The Link Between Inequality and Violence Against Women
The pay gap is not merely a financial statistic; it reflects a broader imbalance of power between genders in Greenland, Keldsen emphasizes. “This inequity can lead to numerous consequences for women.”
Research shows a troubling correlation: as the pay gap widens, the incidence of violence against women typically escalates. According to the World Health Organization, low gender equality is a risk factor for increased violence in society. “In Greenland, we are certainly facing challenges with violence against women,” Keldsen asserts.
Disturbingly, data from the Equality Council reveals that 62 percent of Greenlandic women have experienced violence in their lifetimes. Moreover, over twice as many women as men have reported instances of sexual abuse—34 percent of women compared to 15 percent of men.
### Is There Hope for Change?
“Are there any signs that this gender pay gap trend is improving?” one might wonder.
Keldsen remains cautiously optimistic, noting that certain strategies have proven effective in other contexts.
She advocates for looking to countries like Iceland, Norway, and Finland, which successfully maintain a smaller wage gap between men and women through legislative measures. “These nations enforce gender quotas for management and board roles and ensure equal rights regarding maternity,” she says.
Poppel also believes that a reevaluation of wages in female-dominated professions, such as care and education, is vital for narrowing the gap. However, she underscores that such changes require a significant shift in societal values. “It’s about how we perceive income and the status attributed to various professions. If the value and recognition of roles traditionally held by women increase, along with their compensation, it could facilitate greater equality,” she adds.
In confronting these challenges, Greenland has an opportunity to learn from successful models, potentially paving the way for a more equitable future.