Karolina Koronczewska

The public opinion has been busy with an issue of the gender equality, chiefly in the
workplace. The disputable question is, whether government should encourage certain
percentage of most high-level, well-paid jobs to be strictly reserved for women? I am inclined
to believe that it is an unprofitable resolution and employment should be based on the
occupational qualifications of employees rather than on gender.

First of all, men were always present in the labour market, while for women, the
process of entering it was gradual due to the historical conditioning. Since the World War II
participation of women has been systematically increasing — in 1950 it was around 31%,
whereas in 2016 almost 49%. Accordingly, is rapid hastening of the development process
truly necessary?

Moreover, such a solution may result in positions being filled with unqualified people
only because of the top-down ordinances. For instance, Christine Lambrecht, the Federal
Minister of German Defence, who does not have any previous expertise in military or defense
policy sector.

On the contrary, including particular percentage of women in well-paid jobs may be a

big step for normalising their presence in careers that are theoretically considered to be
reserved for men. Picture of a woman working as a construction worker, a mechanical
engineer or a truck driver breaks down stereotypes and broadens horizons.

Nevertheless, women and man both should be viewed as equally capable. Reserving
certain percentage of most high-level jobs can easily call women’s qualifications into
question. Instead, providing access to education and creating favourable work environment
allow women to find their own way to success, which results in higher self-esteem.

To sum up, I am convinced that certain percentage of most high-level, well-paid jobs should
not be strictly reserved for women. I firmly concur with Geena Dunne, an Australian feminist
writer, who said "Feminism isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong,
it's about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”