Carrie Gracie is right – women need to speak up if they want equal pay

Pay secrecy always favours the bullies, those who shout the loudest and have the powerful agents or managers. Women rarely discuss wages with each other

Carrie Gracie was a well-regarded presenter for BBC news, who stood down from her job as China editor in 2018 on discovering she was earning far less than men in similar positions. Now, she’s campaigning for equal pay.

She told a conference this week women might have themselves to blame if they aren’t earning the same as male counterparts. According to Carrie, women are happier talking to strangers about sex than money.

She commented: “Pay secrecy does not work in favour of women, so it’s astonishing that women are such a big part of propping it up.”

Not all women agree. Alex Shulman, who edited British Vogue for 25 years, thinks that bosses must have the freedom to pay what they like, based on skill and market value.

But I think Carrie has a point: Pay secrecy favours those who speak up for themselves. Women rarely discuss their wages with each other and therefore miss an opportunity to improve their situation – the subject of remuneration is more taboo than talking about an affair or a partner that’s not interested in sex.

In order to achieve equal pay for equal work, we have to stop being embarrassed. Based on my experience, the best principle to adopt when you get an offer is to ask for more.

That takes guts, so we need to toughen up – you can only be rejected, and most women are all too familiar with that.