How Digital Nomadism Can Solve the Global Gender Gap
Is remote work the key to helping women finally shatter the glass ceiling?
A decade ago, Lilly Ledbetter made history when she successfully sued her employer, Goodyear Tire, for equal pay. After enduring 19 years of gender discrimination and sexual harassment, Lilly had discovered that she was making 40% of what her male colleagues earned in the same role. After winning a $3M judgement in a trial by jury, the ruling was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court. While the court majority acquiesced to the fact that she was discriminated against, they cited a statute of limitations technicality as their reason for dismissal.
In Notorious RBG fashion, Ruth Bader Ginsberg dissented:
“The court does not comprehend or is indifferent to the insidious ways in which women can be victims of pay discrimination.”
She then called on Congress to act to correct the Court’s “parsimonious” reading of Title VII. Ginsberg’s argument led to The Fair Pay Restoration Act, which became the first bill President Obama signed into law in 2009.
Since then, surprisingly little progress has been made towards achieving equal pay — both in the US and internationally. On December 17, the World Economic Forum published their 2018 Global Gender Gap Report, which aims to “capture the magnitude of gender-based disparities” and track their progress over time.
Their conclusion? The wage gap is closing — as long as women can wait another 202 years. As depressing as that figure is, pay inequality is just one of many challenges facing women in the workplace today. As the dust from the #MeToo movement settles, it’s clear that the world still has a long way to go in achieving gender parity.
Clearly, past solutions and current legislation haven’t done enough. I have a few suggestions on how we can make better progress (more on that in a minute). But first, it’s important for women to know that they have options that didn’t exist during Ledbetter v Goodyear. With today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to leave office politics behind by becoming a digital nomad, remote employee, or self-employed entrepreneur. For the first time in history, women can conceivably sidestep the gender gap and shun the glass ceiling — en masse.
In hindsight, becoming a digital nomad in 2011 positively impacted my life in ways that I never expected:
- I don’t have to worry about male superiors abusing their power.
- I don’t have to take clients out to business dinners that feel too much like dates.
- I don’t have to stress about climbing the corporate ladder.
- I don’t have to endure sexual advances or looks from male coworkers.
- I don’t have to settle for $0.70 on the dollar anymore.
After brushing off, ignoring, or suppressing many instances of workplace discrimination or harassment throughout my early career, I’ve since enjoyed 7 years of relative bliss — all because I work from home. It’s hard for men to overstep boundaries when they never physically meet you. My clients and contractors are remote, too. I’m in complete charge of my business operations, my earning potential, my work environment, and my time.
Going remote is a potential game-changer for women — you can make more money while protecting yourself from the generally accepted downsides of being a woman in the workplace. However, it’s not a magic bullet. To make sense of this, I had to dig deeper.
For the first time in history, women can conceivably sidestep the gender gap and shun the glass ceiling — en masse.
The Problem
It’s 2019. Most work can be done from anywhere, yet women are still dealing with the same Mad Men-esque hierarchy that has been in place since we entered the modern-day workforce (not to mention the male-dominated paradigm that has held constant since ancient times).
Women suffer from three main disadvantages:
- We still make $0.70 on the dollar.
- We’re less likely to be CEOs and more likely to be passed over for promotions.
- We’re frequently victims of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.
What women want:
- Equal pay.
- Equal opportunities.
- Fair treatment at work.
Is Digital Nomadism a Solution?
Digital nomads are people of all ages who can work from anywhere with a laptop and an internet connection. They can have all different types of jobs in various industries, although they’re typically associated with the gig economy.
According to FlexJobs, the digital nomad demographic is comprised of:
- 41% - Gen Xers
- 27% - Gen Z or Millennials
- 32% - Baby Boomers
35% are employed by a company, 28% are freelancers, and 18% are business owners.
While there’s already a slew of digital nomad beta testers and early adopters, the remote revolution will undoubtedly define the future of work. This future can be especially life-changing for women and our career prospects — especially if it results in more career autonomy, personal fulfillment, and higher pay.
It’s important for women to know that they don’t have to wait to start reaping the benefits of joining the gig economy. They can start today by becoming a:
- Freelancer
- Entrepreneur
- Remote Employee
- Another type of online business owner, investor, or solopreneur
The benefits of becoming a remote female worker include:
- More freedom and financial independence
- Absolute control over your time
- Higher earning potential
- Better quality of life
- Less workplace harassment and discrimination to deal with
- More flexibility when it comes to being the caregiver of a household
Female Digital Nomads Weigh In
I sent out a survey to fellow females in the digital nomad community, asking them how remote work has impacted their income, well-being, and career prospects.
Grace Taylor, the owner of tax consultancy Gracefully Expat, responded:
“While climbing the corporate ladder has its advantages and will appeal to some, when women become entrepreneurs, we have so much more leverage in terms of our earning potential and career/personal development.”
Women are often taught to ask permission, and in many corporate environments, there are layers upon layers of people (often men) you need to ask permission from.
As business owners, we can cut through all of that and tap into our own decision-making power without waiting for someone to tell us it’s OK to do so.”
These benefits and more are available to women right now. Upwork suggest that two-thirds of companies already have full-time employees working remotely. The volume of location-independent jobs is expected to increase exponentially over the next 10 years.
I would argue that the main thing holding people back from pursuing remote careers is the fear and uncertainty that accompany such a significant life transition. But a collective mindset shift is right around the corner. Below is an indicator of just how many jobs can be done remotely across industries.
How Women Can Earn More as Digital Nomads
“According to a 2017 study by payment platform Hyperwallet, a key factor driving women toward gig work is the prospect of earning equal pay.”
While only 5% of American women make over six figures, the Hyperwallet survey reported that “86% of women feel they’re more likely to make the same amount of money as men through self-employment.”
Does the outcome match the expectation? Let’s look at the numbers.
As a group, remote workers may make more than their office-bound counterparts — regardless of gender. FlexJobs has reported that 18% of digital nomads make over $100k per year. 22% said they make between $50–99k, compared to about $46k per year for an average US worker in a traditional role.
Furthermore, “while a digital nomad is typically characterized as a single male backpacker type, according to the same survey, 70% of digital nomads are women — female Gen Xers,” in fact.
As Grace also noted, female digital nomads can make more money faster than we would in the corporate environment, “We reap the full rewards of our labour, instead of enriching those at the top while we wait our ‘turn’.”
That being said, women still face a remote work pay gap. A 2018 Remote Year study indicated that male digital nomads are more likely to earn 6-figures than females (13% to 6%).
There are, however, significant opportunities for women to acquire the specialized skills needed to enter in-demand, high-paying fields that currently skew male, such as Artificial Intelligence.
The Shortcomings
The deck is still stacked against female workers, despite the more level playing field that today’s technology provides for. Although women might think that we can make as much as men (or more) in a remote capacity, that’s not always the case. Gender biases still exist when it comes to remote employees, although self-employed female digital nomads have arguably more control over our earnings.
Women continue to make less than men because of cultural norms, precedent, regulations, and mindset reasons — regardless of if they work as freelancers, remote employees, or in traditional jobs.
A female digital nomad freelancer shared the following with me:
“I think even as a freelancer, women still have to deal with discrimination from men. Maybe if my name weren’t so obviously female, I’d be able to take on higher-paying roles.”
She then explained how she’s been underpaid multiple times in the past and has had to double her rates. Regardless, becoming a digital nomad is something that I wholeheartedly endorse for those generally looking for more freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, purpose, and opportunity in life.
Unfortunately, not all women have the luxury of going remote for a multitude of reasons. To name a few:
- Not every job can be done remotely.
- Not everyone has the option of quitting or changing careers.
- Many people have familial responsibilities or other geographic ties to a location, etc.
- Women are still more likely than men to be the primary caregivers, tied to their households by a disproportionate burden of the cleaning, childcare, errands, and other domestic chores.
Long-Term Solutions
Women can opt out of the frustration and unfair treatment by transitioning to location-independent careers. By going remote, we can make more money, exclude ourselves from #MeToo horror stories, and get out from under the glass ceiling.
However, women obviously shouldn’t have to exit the physical workplace to receive fair pay and equal treatment.
For there to be any sort of long-term change, leaders of society at every level must commit to helping shift the collective mindset of the population — starting at birth through retirement.
It will take the concerted effort of lawmakers, educators, companies, parents, and individuals to make a lasting change.
On a governmental level, lawmakers can institute fair pay acts, change the practice of hiring based on salary, and institute childcare, paid leave, and other benefits.
On a consumer level, media and entertainment companies in pop culture must be more aware of the narratives they’re putting out regarding gender roles.
On an educational level, schools must work from pre-school through grad school to change outdated gender stereotypes in textbooks and case studies.
On a private sector level, businesses should instill flexible work policies in their organizations, ensure company hiring and management policies are fair and equal, focus on changing toxic cultures, make wages transparent, and put an end to open floor plan offices. Companies must promote based on merit rather than personal preference or connections. VCs and other organizations should intentionally seek out and support female entrepreneurial ventures.
On a private level, parents can resist pushing gender stereotypes on their children. They can reconsider when assigning domestic tasks to their daughters over their sons. They bring more self-awareness to the tendency to encourage certain sports or activities based on traditional gender roles.
On an individual level, women must know their worth and that they deserve economic parity. They should be encouraged to follow their dreams of owning their own businesses or working and traveling remotely. Both men and women should speak up and resist when things aren’t right at work.
It’s up to each of us to recognize and seize the opportunities present in 2019 and beyond, as technology allows us unprecedented opportunities to support ourselves independently from anywhere in the world.
Women shouldn’t have to exit the physical workplace to receive fair pay and equal treatment.
The Workplace of the Future
In a perfect world, misogyny and inequality wouldn’t exist. But, according to the World Economic Forum, we are on the brink of a “fourth industrial revolution.” And remote work is “one of the biggest drivers of transformation in the workplace.”
This is an opportunity for women to claim our power. It no longer matters if we are physically the weaker sex. Women can apply for remote jobs or become anything they dream up on their own terms.
Grace adds,
“Millennial women and those coming after us don’t see the value in waiting for someone to decide it’s our turn.
The amazing thing about the digital nomad movement is that it provides another path that can be tailored to each individual’s preferences and strengths.
That not only makes for better career paths and lifestyles for us, but it’s ultimately better for everyone as our unique talents and abilities can be maximised for the benefit of our clients, communities, families, and the causes we support.”
As long as men and women interact IRL, shit will happen. But the remote work revolution is a new opportunity for women to have full control over their businesses, careers, and income — once and for all.
Kristin Wilson has helped over 1,000 people move to >25 countries through her two relocation companies.
Now also a writer and speaker, she teaches individuals how to succeed in the digital nomad lifestyle and helps companies design remote work policies. Find out more here.
Special thanks to May Ling Lai in contributing to this article.
This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by +406,714 people.
Subscribe to receive our top stories here.
