The gender pay gap is simply the average difference in how much men and women earn, with women usually being paid less. There are two main ways to look at this difference. One way, called "non-adjusted," compares the total average earnings of all men and women. For example, in the United States, women might earn about 79-83% of what the average man earns overall.
The other way, called "adjusted," looks at how much men and women make for doing the exact same work, considering things like hours, jobs, and experience. In this adjusted view, the gap is much smaller, like 95-99%. The reasons for this gap include things like having children, parental leave, discrimination, and traditional expectations about gender roles. This pay difference can lead to bigger problems, such as less money for women's pensions later in life and fewer opportunities.
Globally, the gender pay gap is currently around 68.5%, and while it has improved in some parts of the world, it hasn't changed much in places like Europe and the United States recently. Historically, women's pay in the US has increased a lot compared to men's since the 1960s. This went from 56% to 79% by 2016, though some studies suggest it might take until 2059 for women to earn the same as men.
A big reason for the gap is that men and women often work in different types of jobs. Men tend to be in higher-paying industries like construction or technology, while women are often found in care-giving or service roles, which typically pay less. Another important factor is the "motherhood penalty," which means mothers often earn less than women without children or men, and this specific gap has not narrowed much.
