By Ben Wheeler

A SURREAL video from the 1970s starring DC Comics’ superhero Batman and his sidekicks Robin and Batgirl arguing over the gender pay gap has come to light as a result of today’s climate.

The short clip, originally produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, shows Batman and Robin tied to a post about to be detonated by a bomb before Batgirl appears on the scene to save the day.

Public Domain / mediadrumworld.com

 

However, this is not before their rescuer gives Batman a lecture on equal pay for men and women.

“I’ve worked for you a long time and I’m paid less than Robin,” she exclaims as Robin rolls his eyes.

“Same job, same employer means equal pay for men and women.”

Public Domain / mediadrumworld.com

 

She is then interrupted by Batman who tells her it’s “no time for jokes Batgirl,” before she retorts that “it’s no joke, it’s the Federal Equal Pay Law!”

The Equal Pay Act was signed in to law by President John F. Kennedy in America in 1963 and was aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex.

However, the video is a sad indictment of Western democracy that in over 40-years after the short film was produced, the same arguments are being made over equal pay.

Public Domain / mediadrumworld.com

 

The issue has returned to the public’s attention in the UK since the BBC published the salaries of their biggest stars in July.

The figures revealed that the corporation’s top female talent such as Alex Jones, Clare Balding and Fiona Bruce earn less than their male counterparts in the same roles.

Public Domain / mediadrumworld.com

 

They also showed that two-thirds of the BBC’s top earners are men, who make up 12 of the top 14 highest paid stars.

Commenting on the situation at the time, BBC Director General, Tony Hall said; “We’ve made progress but we recognise there is more to do and we are pushing further and faster than any other broadcaster.”

An independent audit examining pay across the organisation is now underway.