I worked in a health food store, same ratio.
I was the only guy (besides the owner) Their ‘manager’ made sure all the ladies got paid for a full day if they left early, came in late, etc. Since I didn’t need a full day to finish off my quota I did the same.
“Oh, but you *can’t* leave early. We’ll dock your pay!”
I spoke with the boss showed him that I’d already fulfilled my end of the contract months ahead of time and that I didn’t even need to show up at all and I would still get paid. He quietly told her to stop.
“Their ‘manager’ made sure all the ladies got paid for a full day if they left early, came in late, etc.”
We occasionally have legal presentations for supervisors in which it is stressed that all employees must be treated in the same manner. While it is probably intended to prevent racial bias claims, it leaves managers in a bind with the gender issue. Nobody has said anything to the men, and wouldn’t dare.
The most bizarre thing is that many of the females are American. They aren’t leaving to deal with children or anything important like that; they’re just going to see their pets and watch TV. Oh well, what’s good for the goose...