Gender Wage Gap Persists, Report Says

Author Says It's Up To Women To Be More Assertive In Salary Negotiations

(CBS)  Women have come a long way in the last century, but not far enough, according to a new report by the American Association of University Women.

It found that just one year after college, women make 20 percent less than men, even though women, on average, have higher grade point averages. Ten years after graduation, the gap widens with women making almost 30 percent less than men.

"I've seen it, like, my mom, all my female relatives, they've always had to struggle like that, they're in the same role as men and yet they're always paid less," NYU senior Jacqueline Tkach told CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace.

It is true that more women than men choose lower-paid fields such as teaching and many leave the workforce to care for children. But once those factors were taken into account, there was still a 12 percent gap in pay, according to the report.

"It suggests that discrimination may still be a very important problem for women in the workplace," said Catherine Hill, director of research at the American Association of University Women. "Not only for older women but also for younger women coming into the workforce."

Author of "Pitch like a Girl: How a Woman Can Be Herself and Still Succeed," Ronna Lichtenberg said that there are still problems but that most of the differences are within women's control. To try and narrow the gap, she says women need to improve their negotiating skills.

"It's not them, it's us," she told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "You have to ask. You have to ask. You have to ask. You have to be really good at that."

It's also important to go into negotiations knowing what you are worth and knowing a lot about your prospective employer, Lichtenberg said. But women are not as assertive when it comes to their salaries. Lichtenberg said the key is to think about all the other people in their lives who would benefit from a better salary.

"It's a tip I've found that really works for women," she said. "If I think I'm asking for myself, I may not do it. If I remember I'm doing it for whoever loves me, than I will."

Women could also try to enter male-dominated fields which pay more, such as engineering and business. But true pay equity, some women say, won't happen until more women are at the top.

"I can't imagine women are going to stand for a pay differential," NYU law student Jessica Lonergan said.

[olebd]

I believe everyone should get equal pay if qualified. I just wonder if men are payed more out of tradition? After all, as it has been for centuries, men are regarded as and expected to be the "providers"

[predictorx]

Of the 11 paragraphs in this article, 3 factually describe the report mentioned in the headline. The remaining material is split among: an opinion offered by a college student based on anecdotal information unrelated to the study, marginally relevant statements by an author with no apparent connection to the study, filler and, oh yes, one statement by someone associated with the study, but that, sadly, was a vague speculative comment which may or may not be warranted by the evidence.

Issues of arbitrary discrimination in the business world will only be resolved when they are better understood, and that will only happen when they receive the serious scrutiny they deserve, which this article, unfortunately, does not provide.

[predictorx]

Of the 11 paragraphs in this article, 3 factually describe the report mentioned in the headline. The remaining material is split among: an opinion offered by a college student based on anecdotal information unrelated to the study, marginally relevant statements by an author with no apparent connection to the study, filler and, oh yes, one statement by someone associated with the study, but that, sadly, was a vague speculative comment which may or may not be warranted by the evidence.

Issues of arbitrary discrimination in the business world will only be resolved when they are better understood, and that will only happen when they receive the serious scrutiny they deserve, which this article, unfortunately, does not provide.

[student500]

The tactics of negotiating that the author is referring to, is not what you are describing. First and foremost negotiating tactics do not involve simply asking for a raise multiple times. Negotiating tactics involve proving to your boss that you are worth more, with a firm, confident and assertive manner. In order to do this, gather the appropriate "evidence" and have confidence that you KNOW you are worth more. Simply asking multiple times starts to be viewed as begging no matter what *** you may be.

[ddc715]

Being assertive only got me treated worse. My boss talks AT me like I am replaceable. No matter how good of a job I do and how many letters of compliments I get. ASKING, ASKING ASKING is begging, begging, begging. (We should not have to beg for what we are qualified for) So NO, I do not agree that is US not them. (other than the obvious act of going elsewhere and TRYING for a better situation) Then it may not be worth it to start all over.
Good luck to the ladies that are worth. Just beleive in yourself and NEVER lose faith.

[BlueInWI]

When I graduated from college with Engineering degrees (BS and MS) in the late 1980s, women I graduated with were offered larger salaries than I for the same position. Probably had to do with the shortage of women engineers and firms trying to better balance their engineering workforce.

I'm not complaining, as I believe in affirmative action in general, but just wanted to chime in...