Despite the progress women have been making, studies report that the wage gap continues to exist between men and women. According to an American Community Survey, women still earn only 77 cents for every $1 earned by men. This pay gap has remained fairly consistent for the last two decades.

Why the gap? According to a report by the General Accountability Office (GAO), many factors account for the difference, but work patterns are key:
• Women have fewer years of work experience
• Women work fewer hours per year
• Women are less likely to work a full time schedule
• Women leave the labor force for longer periods of time

The GAO report stated they couldn’t fully explain the differences in work patterns between men and women but that according to experts and literature, women are more likely to work part time or take leave from work to manage home and family responsibilities, such as caring for children or elderly parents.

The report states that other potential reasons for the earning difference might be:
• Some women give up job advancement or higher earnings for a job that offers more flexibility to manage work and family responsibilities
• Discrimination resulting from societal views about acceptable roles for men and women or views about women in the workplace

What are your thoughts? Why do you think women still earn less than men?

Click Here for link to American Community Survey.

Click Here for link to  GAO.