Women still underpaid, but earning more by the years: study
For decades the old adage has been true: women, while progressing well in the workplace, still earn far less than their male counterparts.
It’s not something we relish in reporting. In fact, in opening the discussion last summer as to why there are discrepancies between how men and women are paid, most ladies seemed to be quite fed up with the issue.
There is this, though. While women – despite their profession, education level or time served – still earn a fraction of men in many cases, things are shifting. And now we have the data to prove it.
By numbers in a new study, for example, gone are the years when nearly all husbands earned more than their wives.
According to Pew Research, 22 per cent of 30- to 44-year-old wives now earn an annual income higher than that of their husbands – a marked improvement from 1970, when that figure stood at a measly four per cent.
More to that, unmarried women, a demographic much higher in numbers now than years past, have seen their median income raise some 60 per cent since 1970.
These are just two modest statistics, sure, but humble growth or not, they do signal at least a small transition where women’s salaries are concerned.
Have to think these figures will continue to surge in the coming years, too. It’s long been said that women routinely achieve a higher level of education than men, and the Pew Research numbers back that up: in 1970, 28 per cent of husbands had more education than their wives, while in 2007 that figure had flipped – 28 per cent of wives now have more education than their husbands.
So, ladies, maybe it ain’t all right out in the working world. The guard is changing, though, slow as it may seem.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Rob | Nov 10, 2021 5:18:04 PM
Blindly complaining about women earning less than men without considering legitimate factors is nonsense. These are some factors I take into consideration:
Thinking of the industries dominated by women, the ones that come to mind are nursing, babysitting, hospitality, retail, and banking. Ones dominated by men are construction, engineering, computer science, labour, firefighting, police and trades. The industries dominated by men pay more than the ones dominated by women, which implies that men would have to be discriminated against for men and women to earn equal amounts.
Occupations dominated by men such as construction and firefighting tend to be less safe than those dominated by women. That means all else being equal, men should earn more to compensate for that increased risk of safety.
Checking the Forbes list of the world's 400 wealthiest people, nearly 100% are men. That says something. The probability of that happening by chance if men and women are equal is 0%, which means there is 100% probability that men in general have higher business/financial aptitude than women.
Posted by: Rob | Nov 10, 2021 5:29:08 PM
I welcome your counterarguments
Posted by: Jack | Nov 10, 2021 7:08:46 PM
I work for a major international engineering company. My company pays men and women equally for the same experience level and job level WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
I agree with you Rob, we need to compare apples to apples.
Posted by: gjm | Nov 10, 2021 10:27:17 PM
Nursing is a high risk job. Nurses are exposed to potentially deadly pathogens on a regular basis. It also requires a high degree of education and skill(as do all healthcare professions).
Posted by: Dan | Nov 11, 2021 12:32:45 AM
And nobody disagrees with you gjm.... and nurses do get paid very handsomely for their work at the hospital. Unfortunately, there aren't enough women in nursing to pull up the average salary.
Of course the article doesn't mention that women are usually the ones who take maternity leave and often don't even return to work for several years. If that's the case, then of course less experience, which means less pay. I also completely agree with Rob when he says that different jobs means different pay. If you compare apples to apples, you'll find that the salaries are much tighter. At my engineering job, new hires (students) are always offered the same package. However, they have the option of being able to barter a bit, which I think the women don't always do. They've been trying for ages to find qualified women engineers to hire and just can't find any.
They situation is a lot bigger than "Men make more". I hate articles like this that don't explain the full picture, then cause feminists to get all riled up and make it a big deal.
Posted by: Adam | Nov 11, 2021 6:23:07 AM
Man that sucks
Posted by: dcl | Nov 11, 2021 12:47:35 PM
I think good work has been done in the public sphere for women, equal pay for equal work. The main reason women make less money and will continue to make less money than men is because of the unpaid work they do at home, the private sphere. The work women do in the home has adirect effect on the work they do in the public sphere.
Dan brought up an important point. On average, most women over a lifetime spend less time in the workforce resulting in less experience and lower pay, lower pension because of responsibilities in the home - child care, elderly care, running a household, etc. As long as we expect girls and women to take care of things in the home, things in the public sphere, the workplace will never be completely equal for women no matter how equal the salaries are at work. Some super women manage to work full time, get a top salary but for most of us mothers we're always overworked, doing two jobs which is not good for the family or society.
So the next step to equalizing quality of life and standard of living for women is to acknowledge and PAY women for the WORK we do in the home.
Posted by: Johanne | Nov 13, 2021 4:27:01 PM
I really get riled up when people want to get paid for taking care of the family. I always hear it's a thankless job. The ones who say that are the ones who are doing it and want recognition by paying paid. Listen. I am no superwoman. I have 3 kids and been married 21 years. Both my husband and I have very rewarding careers that provides a good living and self gratification. We both share the numerous responsibilities of raising kids. I had to learn how to cook (never liked it - Mom use to cook at home) and he never changed a diaper or anything associated with "baby stuff". We both learned various things that was needed to make certain the Family is well-rounded and provided for. Because we weren't at home full-time did not end-up in a less rounded family like some say. If you choose home in lieu of a career, that's fantastic! But stop this nonsense about wanting to get paid. It won't and shouldn't happen.
Posted by: dcl | Nov 15, 2021 4:06:47 PM
to Johanne - you probably think women shouldn't vote, get equal pay for equal work, women should do more and get less. Sounds like you don't understand your important contribution to your family and society and that it's OK for women to work for free.
First world countries have been moving toward recognizing the contribution of work in the private sphere to the economy in the form of child care benefits (also known as baby bonus), changes in family law which states that marital property and assets belong to both people, and child support payments. What these poilcies recognize is that it costs money to provide these services (this might result in someone not working and making an income because they are spending time/effort providing an essential service such as childcare, elderly care, etc) and is beginning to provide some compensation the people who provide these services free of charge. We have a long way to go.