The gender wage gap is a myth

Summary

The video argues that the commonly cited statistic that women earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men does not show unequal pay for the same work. It describes the figure as a comparison of average earnings among full-time workers that does not account for occupation, experience, or hours worked. According to the commentary, the gap narrows or disappears when those factors are considered.

The commentary attributes much of the difference to choices about college majors and careers. It says men are more represented in highly paid fields such as engineering and computer science, while women are more represented in lower-paid fields such as early-childhood education and social work. It argues that women’s career preferences should not automatically be treated as the result of sexism or constrained choices, and calls on the White House to use more accurate information rather than the 77-cent statistic.

Presenter/contributor: Christina Hoff Sommers