Why Men Earn More than Women

I agree that you should be paid for the job you do, if you are a Doctor you should be compensated as such, if you are a mid-level manger or a fast food employee you should be compensated as such. In 2011, male or female can hold many of the same positions, but women only earn 80% as much as men. It could be for traditional reasons but studies show that the gap is closing and women are no longer accepting these statistics.

Moneywatch.com stated that a MBA study showed that men and women graduate and begin earning around the same but after 10 years men earn significantly more. The reason stated motherhood, more days off, and career breaks. I must say this is a very strong argument for the men. If women are not gaining the experience or working the hours, they will not increase their salary, motherhood becomes a greater priority than getting ahead. Women also tend to take lower paying jobs like teaching, nursing the study showed 1out of every 8 followed this career path. I also think it’s because men are better negotiators and demand their worth in a way that’s respected, women are less forceful and don’t get the same type of respect, even if they do demand it, they can be perceived as bitchy. Don’t give up hope women of the working world!

The study also mentions that because of the recession and the smart women in the world the gap may be closing. The recession knocked out many predominantly male jobs, like construction and high level management. This lessens the confidence of men and the careers like teaching and nursing become more appealing because they offer job security. Women are also out numbering men in college attendance and we all know that a degree will put you in a better negotiating position and offer a higher salary; women are also moving away from the barefoot and pregnant life role to the success roles in the work force. Watch out gentlemen the ladies are defying the behavior of previous professional females and demanding the salary gap be decreased and call it bitchiness if you want, I call it being confident, and asking for respect just like any man would.

Many men and women both work in many roles across the world and considering all variables align why should men still be paid more than women?

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Comment by Jason Monastra on April 1, 2011 at 5:36pm: That could be agreed....however it just seems that when hard stances are taken during negotiations of our outsourcing contracts, the response is not seen as an argument vs. when I handle that aspect of the sale. And I have been in meetings where I say almost the same thing, and it is just received differently.

But I can also flip this on the other side. When we sell these outsourcing services and then negotiate for the budget and have that finalized, we need to determine team members. Some we have already, some require we hire new people. I find that women under price themselves in the beginning of the discussions more then men making their overall compensation at the end lower. However, I also find that men price themselves out of work more than women thinking they are worth much more than their skills merit.

Comment by Valentino Martinez on April 1, 2011 at 5:41pm: Jason,

The points you bring forth have some validity and so you make your case. However, I’m waiting for the rest of your blog comment…the portion that more broadly discusses why “Men Earn More than Women”. Is it coming soon? Because this portion simply makes the case for women being their own worst enemy in accepting lesser roles and therefore deserving lesser pay. And taking time off for family reasons and so lost their place in line for earning monetary rewards.

Where is the mention of those who did not lose their place in line, but are still in the line for fair pay? Or those who excelled in traditional and non-traditional job only to be overlooked and passed over come promotion time? And where is the mention of the Glass Ceiling all polished and still present? It’s not even implied much less mentioned as a contributing factor to the discrepancies between men and women in the work place, chief among them -- lesser pay, fewer opportunities, and stagnation due to detours and barriers positioned to block women from keeping pace with their male counterparts, peers and contemporaries.

I particularly missed the mention of Walmart, the largest employer on the plant, now in front of the Supreme Court, being made to answer for thwarting, denying and holding women down in lower paying roles. Are those subjects worth mentioning? And Jason, your attempt to not be condescending, by stating, “Don’t give up hope women of the working world!” With an exclamation point no less, is a little condescending don’t you think—it’s a little like saying, “In spite of your short comings and lowered expectations based on your career decisions—“Don’t give up hope…”, because there is at least that--hope that some of you will prevail.

Do you not realize that the emergent majority of new entrants into the working world happen to be women? That their shear numbers now in business, education, the arts, entertainment and sports, to mention a few places of visibility—is magnified by their performance. And your take that men are better negotiators than women is a stretch. When is the last time you browbeat a women—a fellow professional—peer, subordinate or superior into their supposed place? In fact, when was the last time you browbeat your wife, your mother, your sister, and don’t even mention your daughter (if you relate to any of these formidable females) into their supposed place?

Comment by Nancy McGarry on April 1, 2011 at 5:42pm: Studies indicate that women make most of the buying decisions in a household which is why companies target women. Women are taken in the market to be high priced buyers as women's items are priced at exorbitant rates as compared to men. So it sounds like women are prone to be the decision makers without much negotiating power.. hmmm you could be right.

Comment by Nancy McGarry on April 1, 2011 at 5:46pm: Although, Valentino, I do like your argument. Maybe women are just willing to back down easier because men have withheld the power position for so long.

Comment by Jason Monastra on April 1, 2011 at 6:15pm: Valentino, you have some interesting points. Let me address them in order. The overall reasoning I believe that Men Earn More is simply placed in a cultural ideology that is ever present in the work place. There is a shadow that the people in power allow to exist that presents as you stated "obstacles" for women to compete with their male counterparts. I agree with that.

The Glass Ceiling is mentioned in some of my comments related to the old boys club I see ever present in my dealings with government work. People hire their friends, former peers, etc and place them in positions of authority. They play golf, drink, etc together and maintain a barrier that is difficult to penetrate.

I have no insensitivity to the fact that women have to endure a harder working path to reach a seat at the table then men. Thee comment of Do not give up is in direct relation to my thoughts that too many do. Their is hope, and yes the cards are stacked against them, but encouragement does need to be made not as males being better, but simply coming from a position of power - those of us that can make a difference are required to encourage those that might be discouraged in their efforts.

I understand the emergent majority of new entrants are women? However are you aware of the reasons and more importantly the statistical benefits that polls like Gallop and others point out that essentially encourage the disparity. The majority of new entrants in the past 3 yrs have been non working spouses that have entered for the first time or re-entered the workforce due to their spouse losing a position or making less money than before. Simple truth. With that being said, companies are well aware of the facts and what is going on - leveraging those aspects in their negotiations and paying women (especially ones returning to the workforce) less in an effort to get work done at reduced cost. The fact that polls show women entering the workforce for this reason is simply ammunition for companies to use when offering positions.

Men browbeating - I think you need to read my comments more closely. That was not what was said. My observation is that women seem to accept easier than men do during the negotiation stage. There are a variety of reasons for that, specific for each case.

And for the sake of comparison - lets look at this. Nancy mentioned that maybe men have held the power too long. Consider this, the top 1% of the country holds 35% of the wealth. With the top 20% holding 80% of the national wealth. The people that country the money, control the power as Nancy put it, make the decisions. In 2011, there were only 99 female billionaires out of 1125 worldwide. More importantly, only 10 are self made. As long as the people in control are men, it will remain difficult for women to maintain equality when it comes to money.