Final answer:
In 2015, the average woman worker earned about 77 cents to every dollar earned by a man, with a report by the Pew Research Center suggesting 84 cents to the dollar. This disparity is influenced by household responsibilities and other factors. Additionally, the wage gap is even wider for women of color in comparison to White males.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average woman worker earned significantly less than her male counterpart in 2015. While one report released by the White House stated that full-time working women make just 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, other sources, such as the Pew Research Center, suggest that women earn 84 cents to the dollar. It is clear, however, that a gender wage gap persists, influenced by various factors including household responsibilities, child-rearing, and differences in job experience due to these responsibilities.
In the broader context, when we consider race and ethnicity, the gap becomes even larger. For example, African American women earn approximately 64 cents, and Latina women earn 56 cents for every dollar a White male makes. Despite the gains made by entering the workforce in substantial numbers and ratcheting up education levels, women have not yet achieved parity in pay with men, particularly in top positions within large companies or in governmental roles such as the U.S. Congress.