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At first glance, freelancing is alien to gender differences. There is no need to use physical force, everyone is equal in front of the laptop. But in reality the situation is not so clear cut.
The freelance market in Russia continues to develop rapidly, and the coronavirus pandemic has played an important role in this. According to experts, in the first half of 2020, the market grew by an average of 30%.
Most often, freelancers work: journalists, copywriters, marketers, IT specialists of various profiles, designers, video editors, photographers, translators. In all these areas, the ratio of men and women is approximately 55% to 45%. But the differences in working conditions and relationships with the customer are sometimes striking.
Does gender matter?
In the field of IT, engineering, photo and video, male freelancers predominate. But in the field of copywriting, translations, marketing and advertising, there are twice as many women as men. In the field of design, the ratio is equal.
According to studies, when choosing a photographer, layout designer or programmer, clients will almost always choose a man; designer, translator, marketer or copywriter — a woman. Customers confidently give the first place for diplomacy and creativity to ladies. This is largely due to the fact that women are more sociable and strive to hear and understand the customer as much as possible.
Gentlemen Prefer Performers
Statistically, women freelancers complete more jobs than men. Psychology also plays a role here. Men prefer to work for one customer or a solid project; while communicating with a customer, they are less likely to bend, dictate their terms, and are more assertive.
Women often take many different small orders, are more loyal, take corrections more calmly, try to fulfill the wishes of customers as much as possible, agree to give a discount or bargain. The empathy inherent in women also plays a role.
An interesting observation: 70% of male clients prefer to work with female freelancers, almost 80% of female clients hire male remote workers. The reasons, again, lie in the field of psychology.
Women subconsciously trust men more. For men, communication and leadership roles are easier with members of the opposite sex. Also, female freelancers are more productive: they devote more than 50% of their time to work, men — a little more than 40%.
The journalist’s feet feed, the freelancer’s confidence
Basically, the difference in the wages of a freelancer is influenced by: the quality of work, experience and confidence. Newcomers traditionally underestimate the cost of services, this is especially true for women. Men initially try to take a high bar. And more often than women, they respond to a task that requires skills that they lack, believing that in the process they will learn everything they need.
Women freelancers may be paid less simply because they themselves underestimated the amount of the fee in the first place. As a rule, women are more critical of themselves and evaluate their own skills worse than they really are.
Also, freelance ladies may quote a lower price because they subconsciously think that this will increase their chances of getting an order. Of course, there are areas where freelancers of a certain gender earn more. For women it is copywriting, marketing and SEO. For men — accounting services, photo, video and IT.
Who is good at freelancing?
Male freelancers are more likely to experience stress. At any simple and slightest hint of an outflow of customers, the representatives of the stronger sex at the subconscious level cease to feel like earners, winners. Psychologically, they need to achieve a result, a sense of excitement from solving a problem during work.
Also, there is still a stereotype in society that men choose freelancing to shirk “real work”. Which does not add positive to remote male workers. Women make up for the lack of orders with housework, self-care, and socializing. Also, thanks to freelancing, they often experience pride and a sense of self-realization.
Freelancers work more than their counterparts in the office. 90% work at night, especially female freelancers and IT professionals of both sexes. Therefore, burnout syndrome in remote workers is not uncommon, both in men and women.
We can say that the most successful in freelancing are competent specialists who are able to qualitatively complete the task and organize their working time. A sought-after freelancer always has a circle of regular customers who appreciate his professionalism. And gender doesn’t matter.