Unequal Pay for Unequal Work

In a piece for the New York Times, Warren Farrell exposes just how phony are the repeated claims that women make less than men.

They do; it is not that the raw figures are wrong. But it is not because of discrimination against women.

As a control, Farrell compared income levels for men and women who owned their own businesses. Here, presumably, discrimination cannot be a factor; it is a pure free market. He found that the pay rate for self-employed women was 49 percent that for men.

If, then, other-employed women are making 80 cents on the men’s dollar, 31 cents of that represents discrimination—against men.

He also found that money was the prime motivator in choosing a job for only 29 percent of women, but 76 percent of men. It rather stands to reason that men would choose higher-paying jobs. Women sacrifice pay for things they value more: autonomy, flexibility, fewer hours, a pleasant work environment, safety, a job that’s fun.

“Men earn more money,” says Farrell; “women have better lives.” Men work longer hours, and take more dangerous, dirtier, and more strenuous jobs. They are more willing to relocate or to travel for work.

He also notes that unmarried, childless women make 117 percent of single men’s salary. The lower figures for women overall can be entirely accounted for—and more--by the inclusion of married women who do not need to work for a living; for whom their job is a hobby.

Surveys show that 70 percent of men, and 63 percent of women, would sacrifice pay for more family time.

Unfairly, only women have that option.