Why Do People Still Believe the Myth of the Gender Wage Gap?

It isn't real. Average differences in salary between men in contrast to women are largely due to one over-riding factor: choice.
Men have different interests, due to the fact they're not like women. Men like things, women like people. Men gravitate to objects like cars, trains, planes and things that go BOOM! Women like to talk, gossip, socialise, and hence they'll wind up in careers in nursing, psychology and teaching. Men are far more analytical, and will gravitate to the (highly sought-after, and therefore highly-paid) STEM positions, and end up becoming a data analyst, statistician, or invent something that they can sell to Elon Musk.
Men have greater ambition, work longer hours, are far more willing to sacrifice their leisure time with family in order to make it to the top of the corporate ladder. Women take far more holidays, sick leave, and are FAR more likely to opt to work part-time rather than full-time.
It really is this simple. "Discrimination" has NOTHING to do with it!
I mean, come on, think about this. If it were true that women got, let's say, 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man to do the exact same job, don't you think employers would do all they could to get away with hiring only women?

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

The problem here is even if we accept that it is all explainable by choice (it is not).

But say that is true.

It is the height of ignorance born out of privilege to just assume everyone is given the same choices.

And you also seem to buy into the proven myths that men and women are genetically predisposed to interests that just happen to line up with cultural stereotypes.

Ever consider that part of why women were not so mechanically inclined because when I was in school girls were barred from even taking automotive or shop classes.

Research has shown in the tech sector women have been marginalized for decades too. How are you supposed to learn something if they won't even let you in the classroom?

And sure, you might be right about women taking more time off or not working late. But just spitballing here but maybe that is because on top of working they are still expected to do all the stereotypical household stuff like cook, clean, look after children.

And talk to any stay at home dad and they will tell you the first thing everyone assumes about him is that he fucked up his career somehow. Nobody even considers that a man would look after the house and kids voluntarily.

Women often have the equivalent of two full time jobs and one is unpaid but is expected of them anyway.

Discrimination and bias are not always blatantly obvious. Especially if you just accept stereotypes and social conventions like this as being biological imperatives.

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@SteelHands Well we know know your idea of "normal" is stuck 100 years in the past. it is not the 1930s anymore. Beating the crap out of your wife was considered normal and raping your wife was not a crime in that same era. Not really sure that is something to look fondly at.

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basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

@SteelHands what caveman horsesh*t is that? Cooking, laundry, cleaning is not a "woman's job" or for that matter a man's job. It's called being a responsible adult with basic life skills.