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Comment by cal5k | Hacker News Reader

I’m very sceptical of this explanation. Sexism probably still plays a role, but not nearly as big a role as population-level average differences in personality/interests.

Some interesting papers: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/095679761774171...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188691...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijop.12529

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Even if you assume all this research is correct, why are people with certain characteristics or interests that are disproportionately associated with women get rewarded less economically? Also sexism.

Well if you read the research you would see that it actually boils down to choices people make. So that’s sort of like saying that the choices women make are de facto sexist because... they’re women?

No, I'm saying the economy rewards the choices men make. Women get paid less because employers pay less in female-dominated fields.

Alternatively: Women are free to choose professions without having to concern themselves about making money.

Evidence:

1. Women make these choices more in richer and more egalitarian societies. Your explanation makes the opposite prediction and is therefore contradicted by the data.

2. Women care a lot more about how much a prospective partner earns.

2a. This is not due to women being "unable" to support a partner because they get paid less: the preference gets stronger the more a woman earns, not weaker.

3. Women care a lot more about predictable work, part-time work and no overtime, all of which depress earnings. (see https://scholar.harvard.edu/bolotnyy/publications/why-do-wom... )

Most household purchasing decisions are made by women: https://hbr.org/2009/09/the-female-economy

"The economy" rewards those who produce goods/services that others find valuable. It's pretty bizarre to claim that the economy itself is somehow sexist, particularly when women make many of the purchasing decisions that drive demand.

It is sexism in the other direction. Men who choses jobs that pay less get lower social status, have fewer children, smaller social support network, higher stress, and worse health. Men are punished harshly for choosing low income jobs. Women are not punished if they sacrifice high pay in favor of more personal security, more freedom in the work place, and more meaningfulness in their chosen work.

If you work 7 hrs rather than 8 you get distinct benefits. Physical health goes up. Mental health goes up. Happiness goes up. It does however have a drawback which is lower income. Women on average spends one hour less working than men. Why are men expected to work longer hours then women and severely punished if they don't?

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