February 11, 2009 4:59 PM
- Text
Gender Wage Gap Persists, Report Says
(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.
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.
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