Since this may get lots of negative reaction anyway, why not start out with a sexist joke?
From a oldtime comedian, George Jessel (?) "Why do men die before their wives? Answer: Because they want to."
So, on to the question, "Why do women make less than men? Answer: Because they want to."
Susan Pinker in her great book The Sexual Paradox explains that women value empathy, service, mission and people so much that they willingly take jobs that make less money in order to feel better about their work and their contributions in life. Women value empathy over money for very genetic, neurological, hormonal reasons. There's a big self interest too, says Pinker. Women also live longer, in part, due to the hormonal and physical consequences of empathy work.
Take this statistic: High earning female attorneys (Harvard grads, ave salary $800,00) dump their jobs twice as often as their male counterparts, even as their law firms beg them to stay with maternity leave, part time status, flex time, etc. (pg 159)
Take this statistic: When researchers looked at women's motivations to work, they discovered that having a powerful position was the lowest ranked career goal of highly qualified women in every sector.
Thus, if Mother Theresa had been paid like Bill Gates (in my mind equal pay for equal work), she would have quit.
Pinker says male goals of power and money should not, and are not, female goals. Trying to stuff female pegs into male goal money holes never has, never will, never should, work. Women live longer, and better, when they pursue female goals. What say you?
Comments