Why Men Earn More

Wendy McElroy reviewed Warren Farrell's Why Men Earn More.

This is an abbreviated version.

No Discrimination

On average, women earn 80 cents for every dollar paid to men.
This isn't due to discrimination
against women.

Women Earn More

Farrell compared starting salaries for women and men with Bachelor's Degrees in 26 categories of employment.

When women compete directly with men, they are paid equally in one category; in every other category, they earn more.

Women Work Less

However, women often prefer jobs with shorter and more flexible hours to accommodate the demands of family.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics say men work 45 hours a week and women only 42.

Men are more than twice as likely as women to work at least 50 hours a week.

Women Avoid Hardship Posts

And, women favor jobs that involve little danger, no travel and good social skills. And, these jobs pay less.

Men represent 92 %of all occupational deaths.

Because the most hazardous occupations -- fire fighting, truck driving, construction, and mining -- have 96-98 % male employees.

A Strategy For Women

Women can take dangerous jobs but will not be put into danger for two reasons.

a) Male protectiveness
b) Fear of legal repercussions

10% of the soldiers deployed in Iraq are women. Yet women are 2.6% of soldiers killed. Because a woman is more likely to choose and be chosen for the safer jobs.

And, private industry favours the safety of women over men out of fear of lawsuits for harms such as exposure to chemicals or other stress during pregnancy.

Source article.

No comments: