Gender Pay Gap

The “Pay Gap “exists.
Men
And
Women
Get paid differently.
In “The Simple Truth of the Gender Pay Gap” guide evidence was brought together to prove this myth. This data comes from Federal agencies such as the Census Bureau, the Department of Education, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “in 2014, women working full time in the United States typically were paid just 79 percent of what men were paid, a gap of 21 percent” (pg. 5). The gap has narrowed since the 1970s due to more women getting an education and participating in the workplace. However, the gap still exists and many believe it will not go away on its own.

DDR26P Businesswoman on small stack of coins looking up to businessman on large stack of coins. Image shot 2013. Exact date unknown.

DDR26P Businesswoman on small stack of coins looking up to businessman on large stack of coins. Image shot 2013. Exact date unknown.

After College graduation women are paid 82 percent of what men get paid. However, after a gap of 10 years the gap widens to 69 percent. The reason for this is the men’s and women’s choices. Each can make a choice of becoming a parent. However, women tend to become a stay at home or part time working mother when becoming a parent. When they decide to go back into the workforce, women with no children tend to get chosen over them. After finding a job mothers tend to get paid less. Men are the opposite way, they get paid more after becoming a father.
The demand of closing the gender pay gap is not only a pride thing. There are many single mothers out there who are the primary bread winners of their household. “The gender pay gap can contribute to poor living conditions, poor nutrition, and fewer opportunities for their children.” (pg 6)
The gender pay gap also exists in race/ethnicity, age, education and work place.
As a hard working female college student this affects me greatly. This should also be put into consideration into my fellow female classmates. The guide is especially helpful because it tells us how we can make a difference. As an individual we should choose not to take a lower compensation because the starting compensation could mean a permanent compensation. Developing leadership skills can help also be helpful because you show self-promotion and one makes it clean what can be brought to the table. Efforts like these help closing the gender pay gap.

Catherine Hill, Ph.D. The Simple Truth of the Gender Pay Gap. N.p. Web.