Question

What are some of the reasons that have contributed to women making less than men in similar jobs?

a) Inherent gender differences
b) Lack of education among women
c) Discrimination and bias
d) Women's preference for lower-paying jobs

Answer 1

Women generally earn less than men due to discrimination, choice of lower-paying jobs, and family responsibilities. Laws like the Equal Pay Act have reduced but not eliminated this wage gap.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reasons contributing to women earning less than men in similar jobs include discrimination and bias, women's preference for lower-paying jobs, and factors like having children which can lead to women taking breaks from work or choosing more flexible, often lower-paid, positions. The United States has laws such as the Equal Pay Act aimed at preventing discrimination, yet women still earn about 82 cents for every dollar a man earns, and women with families and children earn 7% to 14% less than their counterparts without families. Furthermore, this pay gap persists even when accounting for factors like education and experience, with studies indicating an unexplained difference attributed to gender discrimination.