The pay gap is goes beyond than wages. For instance, a worker’s compensation package is offered differently in women than in men. Women are less likely to be offered a health insurance, retirement plans or have paid leave. As an end result, this causes them to leave without pay. According to Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), if pay was equity for women it would result in an annual $447.6 billion gain nationally for women and their families (National Organization for Women, 2016). Additionally, for over fifteen years, typically a woman loses $499,101 due to pay inequity (National Organization for Women, 2016). Furthermore, a study conducted by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) demonstrated the effects of the pay gap on college graduates. A year after graduating college, women are paid only 82 percent of men’s wages. Additionally, during the next 10 years, women’s wages fall short, dropping to 69 percent of men’s wages after ten years after college (National Organization for Women, 2016). Caregiving has also affected the gap between men and women inequity of wages. A study conducted by Shelley Correll, Stephan Benard, and In Paik confirmed that when comparing qualified women candidates, women who were mothers were recommended for lower starting salaries, perceived as incompetent, and less likely to be hired than non-mothers. The effects for fathers in the study were different. Fathers were …show more content…
In 2009, Obama enacted an act called Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This act allows employees to file lawsuits in regards to equal pay for up to 180 days after a unfair paycheck. Additionally, in 2013 President Obama enacted the Paycheck Fairness Act. Paycheck Fairness Act require companies that have 100 or more employees to report to the federal government how much they pay their employers by race, gender and ethnicity (Lam, 2016). Although, this act was enacted Obama received criticism. Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska explained that passing a law with bipartisan support is the only way change could