Why are women paid less?

Question

A simple question with no simple answer.

At starting pay, women and men are paid identical salaries for the same work. But, as time goes on, a gap appears and by retirement, the male has been promoted more and is paid more.

This is a complex issue. Some have suggested that careers are generally more central to a male's life and thus works harder at it. Others have suggested that women's careers are often compromised by uniquely feminine circumstances such as childbirth. Still others stipulate that it has more to do with a woman's sense of self worth; that women don't ask for raises as often because they are less likely to feel themselves adequate for such a reward.

To say that "Because men are all sexist pigs!" is not an answer. After all, in order for the comparison between men and women in the workplace to be made.....there must be men and women in the workplace. That means women employers too.

Likewise, to say, "Because women do inferior work!" is also untrue.

This is not a question of gender superiority. To suggest that men are sexist by nature (as some do) is to suggest that women are morally superior. To suggest that women are inferior workers (as some do) suggest that men are superior by nature.

Neither of these are true. Both of these assertions, while common answers to this question, are sexist in nature.

This is an important and difficult social isomorphism. Whatever the answer may be, it will almost certainly have profound sociological implications.

Pleased, it's the study of a social isomorphism. The implications are dialectic in nature.

In addition, no one really needed to know that you work in the porn industry.

Mageta, if you do mean the "majority" of society, then you mean women too.

Women are less likely to ask for raises, statistically speaking. This fact would support your opinion.

However, like nearly everything in society, there just is not a simple cause and effect answer. This is a complex situation with no simple answer.

Bullet b, the studies were done on women and men doing the same job. Had you read my post, you might've caught that point.

Answer 1

We are paid less not because we lack anything but because society as a whole still looks at us as not equals to men. There really is a simple answer to this question. Since we're supposedly not equal why should we get equal pay? It's a horrible way of thinking but the majority of society still thinks that way.

Answer 2

As you probably know this is not suppose to happen - Equal Pay Act of 1963 - same pay for same work. There are some justifications to get around this with seniority systems, merit, quality of work, or any other factor other than gender. I think as time goes on this will start to disappear since females are now getting better education and really becoming more focused on work.

But on most part - to answer your question - males seem to advance more because they do not have a lot of the burdens that women have when it comes to the workplace. Men are more work oriented and women (some, not all) are more family oriented (only because men can not have the children). There are not many females that have children that are able to travel for business, put in the hours needed, etc. Women have to make a choice that men don't - work or family. Taking off to start a family can really put on behind in the workplace.

Answer 3

A very loaded/complex question indeed!!

I think women are paid less than men due to old habits/traditions/assumptions/etc that women are inferior to men. While this is NOT true, and even if someone thought this, they would not admit it nor probably even realize it. Therefore, these old ideas and also the many different differences between men and women cause the gap. You also have to remember one of the more important differences between men and women is the level of aggressiveness or ability to take control. Women tend to be more passive than men, this can signifcantly affect salary. If you dont fight for change in salary you wont get it, I never had an employer want to give me more of a raise by taking a passive route. I could work as hard as I wanted and they would never give me more than the standard increase unless I got aggressive with the change. This can also explain why ppl that apply less effort are able to get paid more than ppl who apply more effort.

Answer 4

All of the reasons you cited. Businesses need good workers, male or female. But, mothers are likely to be paid less than fathers.

Female employees who get pregnant or have young children tend to work fewer hours and tend to take more time off than the father in the same circumstance.

I have a great employee who is pregnant for the first time, experiencing morning sickness, etc. A drag for her, but a drag for the company also because she historically worked 45 hours per week at least. Now, she's taking the mornings off and not working late to compensate because she can't.

Is she going to ask for a raise anytime soon? Probably not? Is her contribution to the company's revenue and profit higher now than before the pregnancy? Obviously not.

Will her lower productivity impact the company negatively? Absolutely, she is critical to the operation.

Her husband (the new father), on the other hand, took a job out of town (commutes home on weekends) so that he could increase his income, which was already six figures.

This is a classic example of why fathers are likely to be paid more than mothers.

Answer 5

I believe this arrangement has to do with risk. Women are more of a risk not by any fault of their own, pregnancy, child care issues. paid maternity leave Women also because of the issues I just mentioned often have a few more benefits than men. Perhaps to boot she gets more of a tax break than her male counter-part. Perhaps in a way it rounds itself off. It is basically the fear of that risk and where the top dollar will be wisely spent. Were a woman to be treated as a man she would lose everything I mentioned and perhaps end up with far less.. Now here we are complaining about women getting less pay and around the corner we may have men complaining that they'd love to have it as easy as a women, paid pregnancy leave....
Remember this is my viewpoint.

Answer 6

You're right- there IS no simple answer.

While sexism DOES exist (and it's not just men with this behavior), this is not always the case, as you stated above. One of the many reasons could be that it has become a practice of (subconscious?) habit. When women were first allowed into the workforce, there was quite a bit of sexism and they were payed much less, for the stereotypical reasons. However, our society and state of mind has changed since then.

But even so, women being paid less may have been so ingrained into the lives of employers, that they no longer realize they do it.


It's my hypothesis for a question with no solid answer.

Answer 7

Women take maternity leave. Women stay home with sick children. quite frankly, as a woman, I am TIRED of hearing women complain. If you think you deserve more than do what you need to do in order to get it. Some of you act like we should be a protected population. By the way, when all things--education, experience, are equal there is not much of a discrpancy

Answer 8

I wish I had some research as to why, but I will say this speaking as one; You have more women these days raising children on the little money they go get; I think that truly sucks. You have women who are single mothers either by choice, widowhood or divorce; Why should they suffer because you want to get paid more as a man? I think this is a practice that is demeaning, unfair and women need to get on the horn and demand it.
Where I work, you have folks who live and exist on this money; some have second jobs, some don't. some get food stamps, but fair is fair; give us a living wage. Give us enough to live and exist on and still put away for whatever eventuality strikes.

Answer 9

Some employers think these women will want families and start taking the job less seriously. Therefore, they think they don't have to spend their money on them. What they don't realize is that a good many working women don't want families, and others will return to work as soon as their one-year mat leave is up. We need to encourage more work-family balance, i.e. on-site day care. I read about one organization that let a new mother set aside a space in her office for her baby.

Answer 10

The answer is simple. People (not just women) who work part-time are paid less than those who work full-time. Those who are new-hires are paid less than those who have seniority. Those who take leaves of absences are not given raises as are those who do not.
For example, my GF works full-time and earns $X. I work part-time (semi-retired) and earn $Y. Her pay is over double what I make, so using the feminist logic, I'm being discriminated against because I'm ____ (fill in the blank: old, white, male).
When women have the same education, seniority, dedication and work the same hours, they are paid at least as well as their male counterparts. Claiming women are paid less than men is like comparing the costs of apples and automobiles.