Final answer:
A direct result of women earning higher incomes includes a reduction in the earnings gap, improved standards of living, and societal shifts towards gender equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
A direct result of women earning higher incomes is that it may lead to a reduction in the gender-based earnings gap, enhance the economic security and living standards for women and their families, and contribute to a more equal distribution of household labor. As more women enter the workforce and achieve higher education, they secure high-paying, high-skill jobs that had formerly been inaccessible due to various barriers, including the glass ceiling. Higher incomes for women also deliver a broader social impact, such as alleviating the feminization of poverty and potentially activating societal shifts towards more egalitarian gender norms. Despite these positive outcomes, women who earn the majority of family income often undertake more unpaid work than men, and continued vigilance is necessary to address the persistent wage gap and ensure the value of women's work is not diminished in sectors where they increasingly represent the majority.