The difference in pay is due primarily to choices that workers make. The statistic does not take into account number of hours worked, experience, education and numerous other factors. Young women now out earn young men in many areas of the country. So, please lawmakers don't do anything until you actually understand the facts. The book, "Why Men Earn More," is an excellent start in understanding why men in general earn more than women.

"It is stunning and deeply troubling," said Debra L. Ness" ---- What's stunning and deeply troubling is that you would use such general information to come to specific conclusions.

From a recent article in Forbes: "Ninety-two percent, or 4,234, of all on-the-job fatalities were among men, and the remaining 8%, or 375, were women. This is partly because there are disproportionately more men in dangerous industries like construction and mining."

In support eman2001's spot-on comments, see also the U.S Department of Labor Study that was released on January 12, 2009, entitled, "An Analysis of the Reasons for the Disparity in Wages Between Men and Women.” This report concluded that "the differences in the compensation of men and women are the result of a multitude of factors and that the raw wage gap should not be used as the basis to justify corrective action. Indeed, there may be nothing to correct. The differences in raw wages may be almost entirely the result of the individual choices being made by both male and female workers."

This is just another "shock" study, it really doesn't look at the big picture or all the facts just gives you a big bold headline that really is meant to make people talk about how bad it is and pressure legislatures to make a unneeded law, so we can all sleep better at night.

It's about time!

And who works more hours?

Debra L. Ness is a hack that oviously has read the book "How to Lie with Statistics".

Not for long, women have been graduating from college at higher rates than men

I just finished doing a wage study of smaller SW MN jails and of the 5 jaiIs I was looking at only one had a female jail administrator. The woman's pay was $18,000 less than the average of the 4 jails headed by male jail administrators. You cannot tell me that this licensed professional peace officer who has been in her job for over 25 yrs is paid less because of "life choices" or the avoidance of danger. The County Commissioners who decide her salary noticed she's female, pure and simple. There are other female employees in that same county who are paid less than male dominated jobs too.