Final answer:
The correct answer regarding the wage gap is that women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Despite laws like the Equal Pay Act, a gap remains due to factors including discrimination and career interruptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wage gap is the level of women's income relative to that of men. Based on the information provided, which includes data from the White House, Pew Research Center, and U.S. Census statistics, the correct answer to the question regarding women's income compared to men's income is 77 cents to the dollar.
In the United States, despite efforts to close the wage gap, including the enforcement of the Equal Pay Act, women on average earn less than men. This disparity in earnings has real-life consequences, affecting families and long-term savings plans. The wage gap figures can vary slightly depending on the source, but it's widely recognized that disparities remain due to a combination of factors, including discrimination, differences in occupations, and career interruptions often associated with motherhood.