301
Special Topic 9
Earnings Differences Between Men and Women
OUTLINE
I. Employment Discrimination and Earnings of Women
A. Besides employment discrimination, differences in specialization within the family,
educational choices, and career goals contribute to the gender earnings gap.
II. Marital Status and the Earnings of Women
A. Besides employment discrimination, differences in specialization within the family,
educational choices, and career goals contribute to the gender earnings gap.
III. The Changing Workforce Objectives of Women
A. As career and educational choices of women have become more like men during the
last 20 years, the earnings gap has fallen.
OBJECTIVES
This feature analyzes the earnings differences between men and women and the changing economic
role of women. It documents that women earn less than men. We then discuss possible reasons for
the gender earnings gap. Besides employment discrimination, differences in specialization within
the family, educational choices, and career goals contribute to the gender earnings gap. We also
show that as career and educational choices of women have become more like men during the last
30 years, the earnings gap has fallen.
IMPORTANT POINTS AND TEACHING SUGGESTIONS
1. Students have difficulty grasping the impact of employment discrimination on earnings. Be sure
to point out that earnings differences according to race or sex may be the result of factors other
302 Special Topic 9/ Earnings Differences Between Men and Women
HINTS FOR ANSWERING CRITICAL ANALYSIS QUESTIONS