Does the Wage Gap Really Exist? A Gender War

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) reports that in 2023, women working full-time, year-round earned 83 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gap of 17%. The gap is larger for Black women (64 cents) and Latina women (57 cents). Even after controlling for college major, occupation, hours worked, and other factors, a 6% unexplained gap remains, which the AAUW attributes to discrimination and bias. The report also highlights the motherhood penalty and the fatherhood bonus, showing that mothers earn less while fathers earn more, directly contradicting the 'choice' narrative.

A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis found that women earned an average of 82% of what men earned in 2022, based on median hourly earnings of all workers. The study found that even when comparing men and women with similar education levels and in similar occupations, a pay gap persists. or example, among workers with a bachelor's degree, women earn 76% of what men earn. The report also notes that the gap widens with age and is more pronounced for mothers, who face a 'motherhood penalty,' while fathers see a wage premium. This refutes the argument that the gap is solely due to women's career choices.

A 2021 Glassdoor report, based on analysis of millions of salary reports, found that after controlling for job title, education, experience, and location, women still earn 4.9% less than men. The study, led by Chief Economist Daniel Zhao, also found that the unexplained gap is larger in certain industries and seniority levels, suggesting that bias and negotiation differences play a role. The report concludes that while the raw gap is largely explained by occupation and hours, a significant portion is unexplained and cannot be attributed to women's choices, supporting the argument that discrimination persists.

A 2022 orbes article by economist and author Jon Miltimore argues that the commonly cited 82-cent figure is misleading because it does not account for differences in hours worked, occupation, and experience. The piece cites data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that single, childless women earn 96% of what single, childless men earn, and in some urban areas, young women out-earn men. It also references research by Harvard's Claudia Goldin, who found that the pay gap largely disappears when controlling for job flexibility and hours, suggesting that women's choices—not sexism—drive the gap.

A 2021 article from The Economist highlights that when comparing men and women with the same job, same hours, and same experience, the pay gap in many developed countries shrinks to less than 2%. The piece points to data from the UK's Office for National Statistics and US census data, arguing that the raw gap is driven by women's decisions to take career breaks, work part-time, and choose lower-paying but more flexible roles. It also notes that in countries like Norway, where policy aggressively promotes equality, the gap persists, suggesting that biology and preferences, not systemic sexism, are the primary drivers.