jo172 wrote:The fundamental suggestion that the pay gap is the result of a sexist in human resources is deciding to pay men and women differently (which is actionable) is laughable.
If one is going to try and defend that pay gap a far better argument is to suggest that it's a reflection of what society values, supply and demand.
Not sure it is even the economical argument (supply, demand, value) that is at play.
I have never encountered a female who has been paid less than a male for the equivalent role in the same organisation, nor less desirable because they are female.
What I have seen, however, is where a female exits the workforce for a period of time to tend to a family, usually at a critical developmental period in their career (25-35). At a later date they return at the same level that they left (if they have the benefit of maternity leave and a right of return), or have to start again at or near the bottom. Meanwhile the male who continued work during that period has progressed up the chain.
When you see articles/papers about the gender pay gap, it generally refers to an average or mean. I am not sure we will ever have a solution to this unless it becomes a social norm for a mother to have a lesser involvement in their child's upbringing.