How women in media won some pay equality in the 1970s, and why they’re still fighting today

As the media’s gender pay dispute rages on, history might help us understand the best course of action, explains Marama Whyte in this crossposting from The Conversation.

BBC China editor Carrie Gracie resigned her position last week in an open letter protesting the BBC’s “illegal” gender pay inequality and “the culture of secrecy that helps perpetuate it”. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is investigating Gracie’s claims. A BBC spokesperson has responded, saying:

“The BBC was one of the first to publish a gender pay report showing we are significantly better than national average … We have already conducted an independent judge-led audit of pay for rank-and-file staff which showed ‘no systemic discrimination against women’.”

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