Leda

Erlandson
English 2010
October 12, 2014
The Wage Gap Argumentative Cartoon

"Although the progress of the last 50 years is undeniable, pay discrimination remains a pressing problem for women
in America," EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien said in a statement released today. "In 2012 women generally earned 77
percent of men's wages, and for African American women and Latinas, the number is even lower. At the rate at which we
are progressing the gender pay gap will not close until 2057." Focusing on the wage gap is important because it effects
women around the world, is an unfair matter, and further brings inequality to women. Focusing on doctors and surgeons,
Women only make 71% of mens wages-after controlling for age, race, hours and education. (Hill) There been multiple
studies and statistics gathered that have shown that the wage gap definitely does exist, and it very important to deal with.
Some may argue that it is due to women not receiving a higher amount of education that men do, but this I proven to be
false. While more education is an effective tool for increasing earnings, it is not an effective tool against the gender pay
gap. At every level of academic achievement, womens median earnings are less than mens earnings, and in some cases,
the gender pay gap is larger at higher levels of education. While education helps everyone, black and Hispanic women earn
less than their white and Asian peers do, even when they have the same educational credentials. (Hill) It is unfair, and
definitely a social justice issue that a wage gap based on gender in the United States is still so large.

Sources
Hill, Catherine, P.H.D. "The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Fall 2014)." AAUW: Empowering Women
Since 1881. AAUW, 18 Sept. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truthabout-the-gender-pay-gap/>.
Miller, Claire Cain. "Pay Gap Is Because of Gender, Not Jobs." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23
Apr. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/the-pay-gap-is-because-ofgender-not-jobs.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1>.
Release, Press. "Equal Pay Act Signed 50 Years Ago Today." Equal Pay Act Signed 50 Years Ago Today. US
Equal Employment Opportunity Commision, 10 June 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/6-10-13.cfm>.

Work Cited

Guilford, Gwynn. "The Definitive Case for Paternity Leave." Quartz.

Quartz, 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.

Hill, Catherine. "The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Fall 2014)." AAUW:
Empowering Women Since 1881. AAUW, 18 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.

KASSENBOEHMER, SONJA C., and MATHIAS G. SINNING. "Distributional

Changes In The Gender Wage Gap." Industrial & Labor Relations Review
67.2 (2014): 335-361. Business Source Premier. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.

Miller, Claire Cain. "Pay Gap Is Because of Gender, Not Jobs." The New
York Times. The New York Times, 23 Apr. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.