Gender Pay Gap
... would narrow the gap to 19 percent (Media Advisory). Another important factor missing from the BLS data is experience. Women are more likely then men to have breaks from work to care for children and other dependents. This time away from work means less experience and fewer promotions. Studies show women have less tenure than men in virtually every age group and differences were most significant when women were in their prime-working years. Women who have been out of school for six years have accumulated 30 percent less work experience than men, and after 16 years they have worked half as much (Media Advisory). Therefore it is essential, when comparing men and women, to include the number of years each has been in the workforce. Compare equivalent years of work experience and the gap diminishes substantially. Travel patterns can also affect this data. On average, women spend less time commuting than men. This may be because of time constraints between work and family caring responsibilities. This can impact their pay by reducing the pool of jobs available, and increase the number of women looking for these jobs. This can result in lower wages being offered for these positions. Another essential element when comparing gender pay is choice. When discussing experience, education, or chosen profession, women have made choices about their careers. Women who graduate from college will continue to earn less if they continue to choose lower paying professions of teaching or nursing over more lucrative male-dominated professions, such as engineering or architecture. For example, 13 percent of the bachelor’s degrees earned by men are in the relatively high-paying field of engineering, compared to just 2 percent for women. Median annual earnings of men and women age 25 to 34 with bachelor’s degrees in the same field of study are roughly equal in most fields (Media Advisory). When these economic factors such as hours of work, education, experience, and industry and occupation are considered, the gender pay gap largely disappears. There is little evidence to suggest that workplace discrimination accounts for the large gap that is reported between men and women. So, does bias still exist and women still have to work more days than men to earn the same money? Evidence still shows women’s pay is still held down by discrimination, but at lower levels then reported by the BLS. What can we do to overcome this gender pay discrimination? The key is education. We must educate both men and women about their rights in the workplace and legislation that is in place to protect them. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibit wage discrimination by sex. Discrimination claims can be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or t...