Final answer:
The Equal Pay Act requires equal pay for men and women performing equal work, with consideration for skill, effort, and working conditions, not just job titles. It aims to address the wage gap, but disparities persist, suggesting ongoing gender discrimination affects earnings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Equal Pay Act requires men and women in the same workplace to receive equal pay for performing equivalent work based on job title is false. The act actually requires that men and women in the same workplace get equal pay for equal work, not necessarily based solely on the job title. The work in question must require substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility, and be performed under similar working conditions. Despite its intentions and legal requirements, the wage gap persists, with women earning less than men on average. Studies demonstrate that when controlled for factors like education and work experience, a disparity in earnings still remains, suggesting that gender discrimination contributes to this gap.
The doctrine referred to is known as comparable worth, which suggests that people should receive equal pay for work requiring similar levels of skill, responsibilities, and effort. This is particularly relevant when discussing fields where women may be underrepresented. The goal of this doctrine is to address and rectify economic inequalities and establish fairness in compensation.