Is the Wage Gap a myth?

I read a Huffington Post article recently suggesting that AAUW and "serious economists" have teamed up and "exposed the wage gap" as myth. The article pointed to a couple of AAUW's findings to demonstrate their point.

The AAUW report states that it "Compares 'apples' to 'apples' by looking at the pay gap after controlling for various factors known to affect earnings, such as occupation, college major, and hours worked." After comparing these apples, AAUW found only a 7% difference in pay between men and women. 

Yes, when male and female counterparts take the same amount of time off for family matters, they're making closer to the same wages. Reality check - family matters are often taken on by women rather than men - which affects their wages. Is this obligation? Choice? Tradition?

EqualPaybackProject.com Info Graphic

Similarly, when men and women work the same job, they're closer to closing the wage gap. Reality check - there are less women in those high paying male-dominated jobs. 

How are we supposed to close the wage gap if we strip the discussion of factors that influence pay inequity? 

What do you think? 


P.S. 
We're putting together a webinar series about different ways to close the wage gap. Vote for which topics you would like to see most. 

• Reconciling Work and Family Life without Sacrificing Wages 
• Building Better Negation Skills
• Financial Planning for Women
• Cultivating Mentors and Sponsors at Work
• Participating in the Political Process to Drive Legislation
• Engaging Young people in the Political Process 

Please take the 30 second survey, HERE. 

Check back for further discussion on the wage gap, let's chat. 

About Closing the Gap:50 Years Seeking Equal Pay

President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law in 1963, guaranteeing equal pay for women and men doing the same work for the same employer.

Have women seen progress since then?  Sure.

Has it come fast enough?  No.

According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, the current wage gap has improved at a rate of less than half a cent per year since 1963.  At that rate, the wage gap won’t close completely until the year 2053.

But American women – literally – cannot afford to wait that long for fair pay.

Closing the Gap: 50 Years Seeking Equal Pay explores why the pay gap persists and how to improve it. We hope to arm women with information and skills to assist them in earning fair pay throughout their own careers and toward a secure retirement.