> But the argument that “life choices” made by women are the real reason behind the gap is, in itself, an absurd oversimplification. Sure, many women choose to stay home or cut back their hours after having children. But many others don’t opt out. They’re forced out because they cannot afford child care, or find a full-time job that affords them any kind of flexibility.
There is no reason to believe that lack of flexibility or not being able to afford day care wouldn't hit men in the same way, too.
The people who call it a myth show that the gap disappears as soon as you control for these variables. Actually, the gap disappears to a large degree by looking at actual hours worked instead of just the yearly salary of jobs with the same description.