Final answer:
Among the provided options, the explanation 'Women are more productive than men on average' is not a recognized reason for lower average women's wages in the United States. Other factors like gender discrimination, frequent labor market entry and exit, and choice of low-wage industries, as well as the motherhood penalty, are considered viable explanations for the wage gap. All of the following are possible explanations for the fact that on average women earn lower wages than men in the United States except: A. Women are more productive than men on average.
Step-by-step explanation:
All of the following are possible explanations for the fact that on average women earn lower wages than men in the United States except: A. Women are more productive than men on average. This is not a widely recognized explanation for wage disparities and contradicts the general understanding that productivity is not necessarily gendered. Other factors include:
- B. Women are discriminated against in labor markets. This is when women are paid less than men with similar qualifications and expertise, sometimes referred to as gender discrimination.
- C. Women enter and leave the labor force more frequently than men, which may lead to less experience and potentially lower productivity over time, also known as the motherhood penalty.
- D. Women choose to work in low-wage industries. Occupational choices and the gender segregation of occupations contribute to earnings disparities.
Moreover, the motherhood penalty refers to the fact that women with families and children typically earn less than women without children, possibly due to career interruptions or part-time work to manage family responsibilities. Conversely, the fatherhood bonus indicates that married men often earn more than single men with similar qualifications.