Most people in the United States have heard of the gender wage gap. The gap argument is that women get paid less than men (Lips). Feminist movements in the past have helped women gain rights they did not have, such as the right to vote. Other movements like wars have pushed women into the job market and the creation of Rosie the Riveter when they were previously housewives and caretakers. When hearing that there is a gender wage gap, the most obvious solution is for there to be another feminist movement. However, one must question whether a gender wage gap actually exists. Most people have an opinion on the topic of a gender wage gap. The studies and literature someone reads can point them in different directions on whether the gap exists or …show more content…
For example, Mark J. Perry from American Enterprise Institute points out there “is no gender wage gap, rather there’s a gender earnings gap.” An earnings gap is different from a wage gap in that an earnings gap means that women do tend to make less than men, but it has nothing to do with men and women doing the same exact work or job (Perry). Moreover, “there is almost no evidence that men and women working in the same position with the same background, education and qualifications are paid differently” (Perry). Previous studies did not take into consideration background, education, and other factors that would make a difference in someone’s wage. On the other hand, it is women’s choices such as what they do for a career, that contribute to them making less money. In the article “Facts and Fallacies about Paycheck Fairness” (2014) by Phyllis Schlafly points out that “there are no gender separations in courses of study, and students can freely choose their major” (196). People choose their majors, which in turn contributes to what careers they may have. As it turns out “women generally choose college courses that pay less in the labor market” (Schlafly 196). If women are picking lower-paying careers it explains why there is gender earnings gap. However, it is not a pay gap since there is not a comparison between men and women working the exact same job. Different jobs pay different amounts, and the amount can differ from location to location. On top of it all in the Time article “6 Feminist Myths That Will Not Die” (2016) it says, “American women are among the best informed and most self-determining human beings in the world” (Hoff Sommers). If American women are so informed one must question why so many women buy into the idea that women are paid less than men. The problem lies in studies that do not take into account critical factors that contribute to women making