Is the wage gap wide enough?

Question

Cultures have always valued female life more. A penile surplus (reproduction requires minimal male involvement and women can only bear so many children) meant that men have been expendable. It is men who have been used for dangerous jobs and other risky endeavours (war).

This is still the case. 93% of workers who died at work due to fatal accidents or violence in 2005 were men (5,300 men and 402 women): http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0004.pdf

Also, around 84% workers who die due to work-related disease are male: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/accidis/globest_2002/dis_eme.htm (requires a bit of math)

However, having a job that entails risk does not reap financial rewards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that "job attributes relating to … physically demanding or dangerous jobs… do not seem to affect wages." http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/1999/Oct/wk1/art02.htm (note how the bar is actually slightly negative)

Why are men being underpaid?

I could also ask why, if we're so samey, are men still expected to fill these kind of jobs. I'm sure a lot of these deaths are from doing activities not requiring strength (e.g. exposure to chemicals).

TheJudge, I said that cultures have valued men less, I didn't say they should.

And could you please answer the question rather than bicker over side issues?

brother_lu, er.. you have answered the question by saying: "they are low status jobs because they are low status jobs".

Answer 1

Men are not "expected" to fill risky jobs; men WANT to fill risky jobs. Studies show men are risk takers more than women, which accounts for a lot of the deaths on risky jobs. It may be cultural but it probably more biological (testosterone and all). Men are not more expendable than women, and it is sexist to suggest that they are.

Answer 2

Wages are usually a product of the size of available workforce, so jobs only really requiring strength mean you have a huge potential workforce and therefore wage's will be low.

So it's about money of course in business. I'm guessing the male's strength means he is more able to do work that could lead to death, and if it is about strength then a machine can do it better.... but machines cost more money up-front. So if you have workers (of any gender) who are willing to work at a rate that is cheaper then installing machine's.

Perhaps the question should be why are so many men limiting themselves to physical work which has low wages!

Answer 3

Nice spin of the wage gap myth. Its all about supply and demand. The Wehrmacht wasnt exactly overpayed for its risky job. High risks jobs pay well where less risky alternatives can be had, like in America. IF you maintain oil rigs at a depth of 500 yards u get a tad more than for flippin burgers.
If the death job is the only supply jobwise you earn lousy money doin a death job. Its all supply and demand.

Answer 4

"Is the wage gap wide enough?" It is far too wide between ordinary men and women, those who do the real work, and those in top jobs (and, incidentally, of the highest paid jobs many are held by women).

In Brit men do most of the risky and dirty jobs and get grossly underpaid for doing them whilst women prefer the 'clean hands' jobs. However, in Moscow and other parts of the world it is not unusual to see women getting their hands dirty.

Answer 5

If you ask me, it's seriously unjust that football players (any pro athletes), entertainers, actors and actresses all get paid way too much for their services, while people who are building dams, working on skyscrapers, fixing power lines, busting their @sses all day long in dangerous low-paying jobs are not better financially rewarded for their efforts.

EDIT: I don't know the exact statistics, but here in the US we have a relatively high mortality rate for women in childbirth situations. And we don't get paid for that, either. (Tell me motherhood is not a taxing "job"- it is, and you don't get paid for your time or efforts or sacrifices.)

Answer 6

Here we go, dear Doc Rudy: if you feel some kind of responsibility for those lost souls, why not pay for their education personally? After all, college education gives people brighter opportunities on a job market.

BTW, Chemicals do not kill people on their own. I should know, I have PHD in chemistry.

Answer 7

The wage gap has been debunked. There is NO wage gap. Ask any of the anti feminists who frequent this forum.


But hey, nice spin.

Answer 8

well most of what you're talking about are lower class jobs, so of course they shouldn't be paid more..