Decisions women make about work dictate how much they earn, and those decisions, not discrimination, are responsible for the pay gap between men and women: According to the Telegraph, that’s the conclusion of a forthcoming study by Catherine Hakim, a sociologist at the London School of Economics. The Telegraph explains:
. . . women have the freedom to make lifestyle choices about their work and private lives, and that tougher equality laws will not open any more doors for female workers. . . .
In a 12,000-word report to be published next month, Dr Hakim described new government policies to promote equality as “pointless” and based on “feminist myths”.
This report will be a welcome addition to the literature refuting the claim that women make 77 cents on the dollar for equal work. One commentator on the article put it best, calling this “yet another piece of research from the university of the bleedin’ obvious.”
It may be obvious to those outside the realm of academia and policymaking, but nevertheless, the idea that systematic discrimination is the root cause of the pay gap underlies plenty of policies around the world (such as the push to mandate that all corporate boards have 40 percent women) and here in the U.S. (see the recent push for the Paycheck Fairness Act). Such legislation isn’t just unnecessary; it could backfire on those it seeks to help by impeding economic growth and discouraging employers from offering flexible work arrangements.
Society shouldn’t expect men and women to make the same choices when it comes to work and family, and therefore shouldn’t expect them to earn the same amount. Most people get that. It’s time for those in government to catch up.
— Carrie Lukas is executive director of the Independent Women’s Forum.
MyKu:
Here we go again.
Gov'ment, don't just do something;
stand there. Meddling kids.
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We spend so much time trying to dismantle liberal initiatives that mess with our lives when we should be dismantling the foundations upon which they are built.
Studies like this, though, won't see the light of day. Katie Couric's "Notebook" would spontaneously erupt in flames if she were to ever make mention of this within. (Am I the only one who pictures Katie writing her "Notebook" entries with a pencil featuring a giant pink feather attached to its eraser? Maybe a princess phone nearby. Lots of stuffed animals...)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere's an example of how even politicized feminists create the very wage gap that so enrages them:
Shannon Drury, recently voted Minnesota NOW Feminist of the Year, is a self-described radical housewife. She writes:
“At one post-college job I hated slightly less than the others (selling CDs at Cheapo), I met my husband-to-be. Among his many charms, he thought my writing was great. He believed that I had important things to say, and he wanted me to say them. Instead, I got pregnant. Why? Because I felt like I needed a reason to abandon working for pay. I lacked the courage to tell people I was staying home to write a book. My blue-collar roots considered such a thing frivolous to the extreme; I felt I had to prove my utility. I needed a tether to hold me at home, to make being at home OK. And what was more socially acceptable than at-home motherhood?”
In other words, did she lie to her husband about using birth control? If so, she forcibly put him into a position of having to earn more than if he'd remained single. Which is an example of how MEN, often against their will, contribute to the wage gap.
See "Home Work" at External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry to have to mention this, but the conversations about gender/work problems (shock) widely differ by gender.
Women all agree that they should make more money, but about 95% of them have no idea where the money comes from. No, I'm not kidding.
Men (generally) agree that competent women who do the same work as men should get the same pay. That covers those women that actually do something that a man would recognize as work (as opposed to showing up, and getting paid for it).
I know some women with a work ethic ("they paid me, I should earn it") - and their female co-workers don't like it.
What about the other 75%, for whom "work" is that inconvenient way-station between breakfast and shopping?
Can't be repeated in polite company.
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