Final answer:
The belief that women have lower career aspirations and earn less pay than men is due to gender inequality and stereotypes in the workforce. Women face barriers such as societal expectations and discrimination that limit their career advancement. Motherhood also contributes to pay disparities for women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that women have lower career aspirations than men and take longer to choose a career path and that men advance faster, and further, and earn more pay than women, is a reflection of gender inequality and stereotypes in the workforce.
Research has shown that women often face barriers such as societal expectations around caregiving, discrimination, and biases that limit their career advancement.
Studies have also found that women with children tend to be paid less compared to men and childless women, highlighting the impact of motherhood on pay disparities.