Today, Explained What women really want
Apr 2, 2019
Vox reporter Sarah Kliff, also host of the Impact podcast, dives deep into the gender wage gap and its root causes. She highlights a listener's experience with unequal pay in finance, pinpointing societal expectations around motherhood and caregiving as major factors. Kliff stresses the critical role men must play in advocating for pay equity and taking parental leave. The discussion also addresses the compounded wage disparities faced by women of color, emphasizing the historical context and necessity for transparency in salary discussions.
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Motherhood Penalty
- The gender wage gap significantly narrows for women without children, earning 96% of what men make.
- This suggests a "motherhood penalty" is a primary driver of the wage gap, not just general sexism.
The Wage Gap Widens Over Time
- A University of Chicago study showed a small initial wage gap after graduation, widening significantly nine years later.
- This difference is attributed to the time women take off for children, increasing the gap from 16% to 60%.
Fatherhood Penalty
- Men face a larger wage penalty than women for taking significant time off work for childcare.
- This creates a perverse incentive where it's economically "rational" for women to be the primary caregiver, worsening the gap.