Why would the man in this scenario want more than the woman? Isn't this whole argument predicated on women
wanting money they aren't getting? If the women don't want the money then what are we upset about?
We're (I assumed) talking about companies mandating lower wages for women.
If the whole argument for some presumptive gender pay gap is that women demand less money, this would:
1) Be fixed by directing all of the ire and heat associated with this topic at the message:
"Women. Demand more money. If there's a gap, this explains it and therefore the power is in your hands."
Is the "pay gap" politicized as a "Women aren't asking/expecting to get paid enough money in negotiations. They need to do this. We will work to get women to demand what they are worth."
Or, is it framed as: "America business is sexist. Our modern economy is sexist. Women are ---getting paid--- less than men as a result, and we need to change this." ?
2) Not the responsibility, or "fault" of companies paying wages the market will bear... or if you think it is, you're banging your head against a wall thinking you're going to get economic actors to act against their self interest when the path of least resistance is to get the other side of the transaction to act in theirs.
But since it's a contradiction to think equally qualified, motivated women don't want more money, then we can assume women want to get paid what they can get.
So we're left with the company being the one pushing wages down only on women, but not men. Because they're all sexist. Even the people in this thread who oppose the pay gap.. when it comes time to take part in hiring decisions they put their sexist hat on and line up for the patriarchy.
I leave you with this:
http://www.payscale.com/data-packages/gender-pay-gap
^Here's a strongly sympathetic post in support of the issue of "gender pay gap". They are true believers. Yet, lets look a little closer shall we:
Note how far down the page this little gem is placed:
"Nationally, when we control for job title, job level and other important influencers of wages (like years of work experience), women still only make 98 cents for every dollar earned by men."
98, my friend. Did you realize this whole controversy is over a 2% gap?
The pay gap (as popularly understood) does not exist. The data shows this. It is a political issue, as well as a cultural one, taking a stand on what certain people believe women should do with their life. They should not have to bear the burden of child rearing, and should want to have professional career ambitions equivalent to that of the average man. This is the position taken and pushed by activists concerned with the gender pay gap. One can be open to the viewpoint, like I am, that women should absolutely be encouraged to have a professional career, if they think that is right for them, and be compensated commensurate with their value. I'm not in support of socially mandating that path as the only acceptable, respectable one. I'm certainly not supportive of politicizing the issue of gender differences as it relates to family, career, and relationships etc by fooling people into believing that since "the average per person salary for all women across all jobs across all levels is 77% of the avg for all men across all jobs across all levels" is some economic and social crisis we have to politicize and legislate away. Its a wedge issue to create division.