Gender pay gaffe: Who really wins in an unequal society?

The recent BBC pay revelations have sent employers, employees and the public in general into a spin. In an age where we’re all too keen to toot our own horns over equality and neutrality in the workplace, it seems that many industries can’t even get the basics, like pay, right.

We’re in a strange limbo, where sci-fi TV shows like Doctor Who have a more diverse outlook than real-life companies. The gender pay gap is no new issue – it’s something that’s been bubbling away under the surface, growing momentum and garnering speed until it’s finally burst forth in an angry media storm. Gary Lineker, who was reportedly paid between £1.75 and £1.8 million last year, courted controversy thanks to his agent Jon Holmes. Holmes allegedly defended the pay gap, suggesting that women chose to use female agents who are "not as tough" – and therefore cannot negotiate a better salary.

And whilst we’re now well versed in the inequalities prevalent in the media industry, it’s time to look at how this problem affects other sectors.

According to the Office for National Statistics, last year the gender pay gap was 18.1% for all employees, on average. However, in sectors such as finance and construction the gap is considerably larger (36% and 45% respectively).