The discrepancy between men’s and women’s wages has become a popular subject recently. In December 2014, as a result of the infamous hack of entertainment company Sony, it was revealed that Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence was paid less than her male counterparts for her role in 2013’s Oscar-nominated movie American Hustle (Needham, 2013). Just last month, actress Patricia Arquette fervently called for wage equality in the United States while accepting her own Oscar for her role in Boyhood. This series of events brought the issue of the gender wage gap to the forefront of America, demonstrating its effects on all women from Hyde Park to Hollywood. In response, men and women across the country have been rallying for a closure of this
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In reality, this statistic indicates that the average woman working full-time and year-round is paid just 78% of what the average man working full-time and year-round is paid (Glynn 2014). While this is still a startling number at first glance, there are valid explanations for the existence of the discrepancy. First, women tend to choose a narrow range of occupations and these few jobs are often relatively low-paying. This pattern is likely the result of society’s pressure for young girls to exhibit the qualities necessary for traditionally feminine work. However, choice of occupation accounts for only a portion of the 22 percent discrepancy. Second, women generally work fewer hours than men. On average, a full-time female worker spends 35 fewer minutes per day at work, when compared to the average full-time male worker. This leads to especially discrepant income from many well-paying occupations such as law and business that value lots of hours. However, hours worked accounts for only a portion of the 22 percent discrepancy. Finally, women generally have a disproportionately larger role in childcare than men do. As a result, women suffer reduced tenure and, perhaps more impactful, are often perceived as less dedicated to their work because of their familial responsibilities. However, the direct and indirect
In reality, this statistic indicates that the average woman working full-time and year-round is paid just 78% of what the average man working full-time and year-round is paid (Glynn 2014). While this is still a startling number at first glance, there are valid explanations for the existence of the discrepancy. First, women tend to choose a narrow range of occupations and these few jobs are often relatively low-paying. This pattern is likely the result of society’s pressure for young girls to exhibit the qualities necessary for traditionally feminine work. However, choice of occupation accounts for only a portion of the 22 percent discrepancy. Second, women generally work fewer hours than men. On average, a full-time female worker spends 35 fewer minutes per day at work, when compared to the average full-time male worker. This leads to especially discrepant income from many well-paying occupations such as law and business that value lots of hours. However, hours worked accounts for only a portion of the 22 percent discrepancy. Finally, women generally have a disproportionately larger role in childcare than men do. As a result, women suffer reduced tenure and, perhaps more impactful, are often perceived as less dedicated to their work because of their familial responsibilities. However, the direct and indirect