Dynamics of Gender Gap and Women Representation in Artist Employment in America: Impact Analysis and a Reconsideration into American Policy

Humans, since the consciousness developed, have had been looking for and acting according to the existing differences in the nature. It has been the nature of the society to look into these differences and then assign roles accordingly. All this has resulted into emergence of social issues in society. The same dictum is reflected in the economic system of management, wherein the tasks are being given, assigned or run according to the naturally existing distinctions among the task force. Considering, Gender as one of the main ingredients among these differences, many social issues stemming from Gender Biases and Gender Inequality have raised their heads in the economic system. “Gender refers to socially constructed characters and opportunities available to men and women based on cultural beliefs or norms which are different from their biological characters” (Adegbite and Machethe 2020). It is viewed as “an ideological and cultural construct” which “is reproduced within the realm of material practices and which in turn also influences the outcomes of such practices” (Adegbite and Machethe 2020). Gender differences, hence, have had been governing the nature of economic activity since the time of realization of such differences. The studies so far confirm the relationship between Gender and economic activity across the globe and consider economics as a gendered process (Bertay, Dordevic, and Sever 2020). Same is true for the United States. Women are a driving force in the American economy, as their labor market gains and spending increased in 2023. However, there are still gender-related economic inequalities in the US which greatly impact the US economy. “In 2022, working women lost more than $1.6 trillion due to the gender wage gap, which is equivalent to 6.3% of the US GDP. Women also make up 67.9% of workers earning the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since 2009”. Further, “the gender wealth gap” is more than “the gender wage gap, with families headed by women having 55 cents in median wealth for every dollar owned by families headed by men” (Keka 2025). These figures reflect a general scenario of existence of issues stemming from gender linked differences for the American economy. Research has been following these issues since the realization of their existence and trying to study the channels through which they impact the American economy. The most of the research is directed towards examination of gendered income inequalities in various fields however, little literature has explored or linked gender with artistic careers. This research is aimed at bridging this Gap.