What's behind the widening gender wage gap?

kAmp=E9@F89 H@>6? H9@ =@DE @C =67E E96:C ;@3D 2E E96 96:89E @7 E96 4C:D:D 92G6 =2C86=J C6EFC?65 E@ E96 H@C<7@C46[ 2 C646?E 7:?5:?8 A@:?ED E@ E96 AC:46 >2?J A2:5 7@C DE6AA:?8 324<i x? a_ab[ E96 86?56C H286 82A 36EH66? >6? 2?5 H@>6? H@C<:?8 7F==\E:>6 H:56?65 J62C\@G6C\J62C 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? a_ J62CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? 2??F2= C6A@CE 7C@> E96 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F]k^Am

kAm(@>6? H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6 62C?65 gb 46?ED @? E96 5@==2C 4@>A2C65 E@ >6? :? a_ab[ 5@H? 7C@> 2 9:DE@C:4 9:89 @7 gc 46?ED :? a_aa] %96 r6?DFD qFC62F 42==65 :E E96 7:CDE DE2E:DE:42==J D:8?:7:42?E H:56?:?8 @7 E96 C2E:@ D:?46 a__b]k^Am

kAmt4@?@>:DED ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 D6?D6 @7 E96 52E2 D2J :E 42AEFC6D 2 4@>A=:42E65 >@>6?E 5FC:?8 E96 5:D;@:?E65 A@DE\A2?56>:4 =23@C >2C<6E C64@G6CJ H96? >2?J H@>6? 7:?2==J C6EFC?65 E@ H@C< 7F== E:>6[ 6DA64:2==J :? 92C5\9:E =@H\H286 :?5FDEC:6D :? H9:49 E96J 2C6 @G6CC6AC6D6?E65[ DF49 2D 9@DA:E2=:EJ[ D@4:2= H@C< 2?5 42C6E2<:?8]k^Am

kAm%96 ?6HD :D ?@E 2== 325i (286D :?4C62D65 7@C 2== H@C<6CD =2DE J62C[ 3FE 72DE6C 7@C >6?] p?5 H9:=6 E96 86?56C H286 82A H:56?65[ :EVD @? A2C H:E9 H92E :E H2D :? a_`h 367@C6 E96 A2?56>:4 9:E]k^Am

kAm$]y] v=J??[ E96 &]$] {23@C s6A2CE>6?EVD 49:67 64@?@>:DE[ D2:5 :EVD E@@ D@@? E@ E6== H96E96C a_ab H2D 2 3=:A @C E96 DE2CE @7 2 H@CC:D@>6 ?6H EC6?5 7@C E96 86?56C H286 82A] $96 D2:5 E92E 6G6? 2 C6G6CD:@? E@ E96 AC6\A2?56>:4 DE2EFD BF@ :D 2 C6>:?56C @7 9@H 72C 369:?5 H@>6? H6C6 :? E96 7:CDE A=246[ 2?5 D9@HD 9@H E96 A2?56>:4 D=@H65 E96 >2C49 E@H2C5 86?56C 6BF:EJ]k^Am

kAmp?5 H9:=6 E96 H286 82A C624965 2 9:DE@C:4 =@H :? a_aa[ E92E >2J 92G6 366? 2 Q72=D6 ?2CC@H:?8Q 3642FD6 D@ >2?J =@H\H286 H@>6? 925 366? AFD965 @FE @7 7F==\E:>6 ;@3D 3J E96 A2?56>:4 E92E :E 5C@G6 FA E96 2G6C286 76>2=6 >65:2? 62C?:?8D[ D2:5 }@C66? u2CC6==[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 tBF2= #:89ED p5G@42E6D 2?5 492:C @7 tBF2= !2J %@52J[ 2 4@2=:E:@? @7 8C@FAD 25G@42E:?8 7@C H@C<A=246 86?56C 6BF:EJ]k^Am

k9am$FC86 @7 {2E:?2D :?E@ E96 H@C<7@C46 925 2? :>A24Ek^9am

kAmw:DA2?:4 H@>6? :? A2CE:4F=2C :==FDEC2E6 E96 4@>A=6I:E:6D @7 E9:D >@>6?E] %96J H6C6 E96 @?=J 56>@8C2A9:4 8C@FA @7 H@>6? @G6C2== H9@D6 H286 82A ?2CC@H65 >2C8:?2==J 36EH66? a_aa 2?5 a_ab :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ H9:E6 >6? H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ r6?DFD qFC62F 52E2 2?2=JK65 3J 3@E9 E96 }2E:@?2= (@>6?VD {2H r6?E6C 2?5 E96 }2E:@?2= !2CE?6CD9:A 7@C (@>6? 2?5 u2>:=:6D[ H9:49 2C6 C6D62C49 2?5 25G@424J 8C@FAD] u@C q=24< H@>6? 2?5 pD:2? H@>6?[ E96 H286 82A H:56?65[ 2?5 7@C H9:E6 H@>6?[ :E DE2J65 E96 D2>6]k^Am

kAms6DA:E6 E96:C H286D :?4C62D:?8 D=:89E=J 72DE6C E92? E9@D6 7@C @E96C H@>6?[ 9@H6G6C[ {2E:?2D C6>2:? 2>@?8 E96 =@H6DE\A2:5 H@C<6CD — H:E9 >65:2? 7F==\E:>6 62C?:?8D @7 Scb[gg_[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 Sd_[cf_ 7@C q=24< H@>6?[ Se_[cd_ 7@C H9:E6 H@>6? 2?5 Sfd[hd_ 7@C H9:E6 >6?] r@?D6BF6?E=J[ E96:C C2A:5 6?ECJ :?E@ E96 7F==\E:>6 H@C<7@C46 :? a_ab 96=A65 D=@H 5@H? >65:2? H286 82:?D 7@C H@>6? @G6C2==[ =:<6=J 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ E96 H:56?:?8 @7 E96 86?56C H286 E92E J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ {:2?2 u@I[ 2DD:DE2?E 5:G:D:@? 49:67 :? E96 $@4:2=[ t4@?@>:4 2?5 w@FD:?8 $E2E:DE:4D s:G:D:@? 2E E96 r6?DFD qFC62F]k^Am

kAm{2E:?2D 92G6 :?4C62D:?8=J 364@>6 2 5C:G:?8 7@C46 @7 E96 &]$] 64@?@>J 2D E96J 6?E6C E96 H@C<7@C46 2E 2 72DE6C A246 E92? ?@?\w:DA2?:4 A6@A=6] q6EH66? a_aa 2?5 a_ab[ E96 ?F>36C @7 {2E:?2D H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6 DFC865 dT H9:=6 E96 @G6C2== ?F>36C @7 7F==\E:>6 76>2=6 H@C<6CD DE2J65 E96 D2>6]k^Am

kAmpC:2?6 w686H:D49[ AC@8C2> 5:C64E@C @7 6>A=@J>6?E 2?5 62C?:?8D 2E E96 x?DE:EFE6 7@C (@>6?VD !@=:4J #6D62C49[ D2:5 E96 D=:89E ?2CC@H:?8 @7 E96 H286 82A 7@C {2E:?2D >2J 36 3642FD6 E96:C AC6D6?46 :? E@A\62C?:?8 @44FA2E:@?D 8C6H 7C@> `b]dT E@ `c]aT =2DE J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? x(!# 2?2=JD:D @7 7656C2= =23@C 52E2]k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 A@CE:@? @7 {2E:?2D :? 7F==\E:>6[ =@H\H286 ;@3D 2=D@ 8C6H :? a_ab[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

k9am%96 C64@G6CJ :D =62G:?8 A2CE\E:>6 {2E:?2 H@C<6CD 369:?5k^9am

kAm{2E:?2 H@C<6CD H6C6 2>@?8 E96 92C56DE 9:E 3J E96 A2?56>:4[ DF776C:?8 E96 9:896DE F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 @7 2?J >2;@C 56>@8C2A9:4 8C@FA 2E a_]`T :? pAC:= a_a_[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 {23@C s6A2CE>6?E C6A@CE E92E 6I2>:?65 E96 A2?56>:4VD 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6 E@== @? H@>6?]k^Am

kAms@>6DE:4 H@C<6CD[ H9@ 2C6 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J :>>:8C2?E H@>6?[ 6DA64:2==J 76=E E96 67764ED] |2?J =@DE E96:C ;@3D[ :?4=F5:?8 x?8C:5 '242[ 2 w:DA2?:4 9@>6 42C6 H@C<6C 7@C @=56C 25F=ED :? u2==D r9FC49[ ':C8:?:2]k^Am

kAm'242[ H9@ :D 7C@> {2 !2K[ q@=:G:2[ 4@?EC24E65 r~'xs\`h D6G6C2= E:>6D 2?5 H2D 9@DA:E2=:K65 7@C 2 H66< :? a_a_ 3642FD6 D96 H2D 92G:?8 EC@F3=6 3C62E9:?8] $96 4@?E:?F65 E@ E6DE A@D:E:G6 6G6? H96? D96 C64@G6C65[ D@ H2D F?23=6 E@ 6?E6C 72>:=:6DV 9@>6D @C H@C< 7@C >@DE @7 E92E J62C @C E96 ?6IE]k^Am

kAm$96 925 ?@ >@?6J 7@C 7@@5 @C C6?E] QxE H2D G6CJ 92C5[Q D96 D2:5[ 56D4C:3:?8 9@H D96 =@DE 4=:6?ED 5FC:?8 96C E:>6 2H2J 2?5 :D DE:== DECF88=:?8 E@ 7:?5 7F==\E:>6[ DE23=6 H@C<]k^Am

kAm%96 r6?DFD qFC62F 42=4F=2E6D E96 86?56C H286 82A 3J 4@>A2C:?8 @?=J >6? 2?5 H@>6? H9@ H@C< J62C\C@F?5 :? 7F==\E:>6 ;@3D] qFE 2 8C:>>6C A:4EFC6 7@C H@>6? 6>6C86D 7C@> 52E2 E92E :?4=F56D A2CE\E:>6 H@C<6CD[ D2:5 y@46=J? uCJ6[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 }2E:@?2= !2CE?6CD9:A 7@C (@>6? U2>Aj u2>:=:6D]k^Am

kAm{2E:?2D[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ 2C6 @?=J A2:5 d` 46?ED 7@C 6G6CJ 5@==2C A2:5 E@ H9:E6 >6? 3J E9:D >62DFC6[ 2?5 E96:C 86?56C H286 82A H:56?65 7C@> da 46?ED @? E96 5@==2C :? a_aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@?VD C6A@CE[ H9:49 2?2=JK65 r6?DFD qFC62F >:4C@52E2]k^Am

kAm|2EE96H u:6?FA[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 r2=:7@C?:2 {FE96C2? &?:G6CD:EJVD r6?E6C 7@C t4@?@>:4 #6D62C49 2?5 u@C642DE:?8[ D2:5 96 6IA64ED E96 82:?D :? {2E:?2 H286D[ 65F42E:@?2= 2EE2:?>6?E 2?5 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ E96 &]$] 8C@DD 5@>6DE:4 AC@5F4E QE@ 4@?E:?F6 7@C E96 7@C6D6623=6 7FEFC6]Q u@C H@>6? @G6C2==[ 96 ?@E65 E96 86?56C H286 82A 92D DE625:=J ?2CC@H65 D:?46 `hg` 56DA:E6 @442D:@?2==J H:56?:?8 7C@> @?6 J62C E@ E96 ?6IE]k^Am

kAmQxEVD :>A@CE2?E ?@E E@ AFE E@@ >F49 6>A92D:D @? 2 D:?8=6 J62CVD 52E2 A@:?E[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm!@=:E:42= 5:G:D:@?D 92>A6C A@=:4J D@=FE:@?Dk^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Q 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm$E:==[ E96 A246 @7 AC@8C6DD 92D 366? D=@H 2?5 D66? A6C:@5D @7 DE28?2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 &]$] H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 92G6 2 86?56C A2J 82A F?E:= k^DA2?mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ324<8C@F?5\4@=@Ci R755g5gjQmE96 4@F?ECJ 255C6DD6D E96 DECF4EFC2= AC@3=6>D 42FD:?8 :E[ D2:5 $696C z92H2;2[ 5:C64E@C @7 t4@?@>:4 yFDE:46 2E ?2E:@?2= H@>6?VD 4:G:= C:89ED @C82?:K2E:@? {682= |@>6?EF>]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ%96C6 2C6 2 76H F?56C=J:?8 AC@3=6>D E92E H6VC6k^DA2?mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ324<8C@F?5\4@=@Ci R755g5gjQm C62==J ?@E 4@CC64E:?8[Q z92H2;2 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmu@C 6I2>A=6[ E96 4FCC6?E 64@?@>J C6=:6D 962G:=J @? H@>6? 5@:?8 F?A2:5 @C F?56CA2:5 42C6 H@C< 7@C 49:=5C6? 2?5 @=56C 25F=ED] Q&?E:= H6 4@>6 E@ E6C>D H:E9 E96 724E E92E H6 ?665 E@ 8:G6 42C6 H@C< E96 G2=F6 E92E :E 56D6CG6D[ H@>6? 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36 =67E 369:?5[Q z92H2;2 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm(9:=6 >2?J s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42? 28C66 @? E96 DECF4EFC2= 492==6?86D 724:?8 H@>6? :? E96 H@C<7@C46[ E96J 92G6 DECF88=65 E@ 7:?5 4@>>@? 8C@F?5 @? A@=:4J D@=FE:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 6IA2?5:?8 A2:5 72>:=J =62G6 2?5 @776C:?8 AC@E64E:@? 7@C AC68?2?E H@C<6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp? @?8@:?8 32EE=6 46?E6CD 2C@F?5 E96 s6>@4C2E:4\DA@?D@C65 !2J4964< u2:C?6DD p4E[ H9:49 H@F=5 FA52E6 E96 tBF2= !2J p4E @7 `heb[ :?4=F5:?8 3J AC@E64E:?8 H@C<6CD 7C@> C6E2=:2E:@? 7@C 5:D4FDD:?8 E96:C A2J[ 2 AC24E:46 25G@42E6D D2J 96=AD <66AD H@C<6CD :? E96 52C< 23@FE H286 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm#6AF3=:42?D 92G6 86?6C2==J @AA@D65 E96 3:== 2D C65F?52?E 2?5 4@?5F4:G6 E@ 7C:G@=@FD =2HDF:ED] ':46 !C6D:56?E z2>2=2 w2CC:D[ 9@H6G6C[ C6:E6C2E65 96C DFAA@CE 7@C E96 s6>@4C2E:4\DA@?D@C65 3:== @? |@?52J 7@==@H:?8 E96 562E9 @7 @?6 @7 :ED >@DE AC@>:?6?E DFAA@CE6CD[ E96 6BF2= A2J :4@? {:==J {6536EE6C]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm!2J :?6BF:EJ[ >62?H9:=6 92D C:AA=6 67764ED[ z92H2;2 D2:5i QxEVD ?@E @?=J H@>6? H9@ DF776C] xE :D E96:C 72>:=:6D[ E96:C 49:=5C6? H9@ 2C6 DF776C:?8 7C@> E96 =24< @7 256BF2E6 :?4@>6 2?5 4@>A6?D2E:@?] p?5 E9:D :D 5C:G:?8 :?E6C86?6C2E:@?2= 4J4=6D @7 A@G6CEJ 2?5 :?D64FC:EJ]Qk^DA2?mk^Am