Time is Money
My first design consists of two separate stacks of coins forming the silhouette of a tie and a high heel. This design is meant to represent the difference in earnings between men and women for every hour of work. Even though it may be a few cents, that total sum adds to a large difference in yearly salaries. The pile of coins forming a tie is meant to represent a businessman. It is in the foreground to demonstrate hierarchy and how because of his gender, he is more valued in the workplace and earns higher pay. You can physically see the large difference in money surrounding the silhouette. The second pile is a high heel to represent a businesswoman. There are far fewer coins, and the silhouette is in the background to demonstrate the value of a female in the workplace based on pay.
The Unclosed Gap
My next design physically illustrates the gender pay gap women face. Women still face the fight for economic equality. Very little is being done to close this gap and the women of our country are suffering. I first have businesswomen to represent the working class females, facing the daily battle of the gender pay gap. I then have a man’s work shoe forming a cliff. This illustrates how women are constantly facing barriers against men in the workplace. The economic system as a whole is flawed, pinning men against women. Women work difficult jobs, yet because they are deemed “feminine occupations”, they are paid less by a government and social system controlled largely by men throughout history. My design shows the sheer scale of the issue, each woman is one individual and the system as a whole is a larger issue that is not being fixed or acknowledged. It is a hole in our system.
The Boss
My final design consists of a man and two women facing each other. This design demonstrates the united issue women around the world face, men hold higher value in the workplace. Men hold larger roles as executives and leaders. Even with less education, men are still paid higher wages for their occupations. Women are conditioned to respect this system when in reality, the system does not respect them. I have the women in the man’s clothing because it demonstrates how in the workplace, women hold key roles and are integral to the success of companies. The businessman represents the workplace, he is the centre of hierarchy to demonstrate his role as most important, the executive. The women are treated like side characters, less important and useful.
