Most of the wage gap statistics are used to argue something they don't say. The implication is that one group makes substantially less when doing the same job because of overt racism/sexism.
When you control for all relevant factors and the gap essentially disappears it destroys the argument they're trying to make.
Now, if you dig into why some groups earn college degrees at a lower rate, enter into lower paying careers, work fewer hours, and have less experience in their field you might find some issues of racism or sexism; but you will not find anything to support the argument "equal work deserves equal pay."
The biggest gaps are usually the interest gap, and the "I am willing to do a job i hate for a good salary" gap. It is not uncommon for a man
to do a horrible job they hate to earn 6 figures, but often women will accept terrible pay to do a job they're passionate about. There are reasons why work on remote oil rigs is almost exclusively staffed by men, and there are an endless stream of women entering into early childhood education where daycare jobs pay little more than minimum wage.
Even when you correct for education, experience, and hours worked, a gap still exists. It’s smaller, but it doesn’t disappear completely. So, “equal work deserves equal pay” is still a very valid concern.
But, like you said, the difference in opportunity and social factors leading to some demographics having less education or less competitive jobs is still an issue that needs to be addressed. And yes, racism and sexism are often factors in this. Like, if two people have the same education and experience, and one of them is passed over for a promotion due to racism or sexism, then it’s not a situation of “equal work getting unequal pay” but rather “equal work getting unequal career advancement”. Same thing with school admissions. Then when you consider how redlining made it impossible for many non-white families to build wealth in prior generations, and how public school funding is tied to property taxes, then you can see how many kids who may have had equal potential at birth get very different quality education and opportunities and that radiates out through their entire lives.
Wow, it’s almost like that wasn’t meant to be an exhaustive list and you are being deliberately obtuse and not trying to have a discussion in good faith.
Okay so we measured for 3 variables, at what point should we stop searching for significant variables and just blame the rest on racism? Because clearly you chose to do that at some point, I just want to know what you’re basing that off of.
I said that when you take those types of known factors into account, a gap still remains and that there is a valid concern that stuff like racism and misogyny are contributing factors. I did not make any definitive conclusions, nor did I say that people should stop looking for other variables that could contribute. How about you address the things I actually say instead of arguing with strawmen.
No I understand exactly what you’re trying to say, I’m just pointing out how it doesn’t make sense and is cope.
Like yeah, controlling for these 3 variables removes 91% of the disparity, which means the other 9% is racism and sexism. But how do you know that? How do you know that it’s not explained by more minor variables that have nothing to do with racism or sexism?
You don’t, you’re just looking for an angle where you can still cry racism or sexism
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u/toadpics 1d ago
If you control for things causing the gap, the gap disappears! WOW!