Study finds that men earn more than women despite college degrees

DAVIS, Calif. – Despite years of gain in the workplace, a new study shows that come payday, it’s still very much a man’s world. \nUsing data from the 2005 U.S. Department of Education and firsthand interviews, the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, an organization that promotes gender equality in the workplace, shows that after one year out of college, women earn 80 percent of what equally educated men earn. The gap continues to widen 10 years after graduation, with women earning 69 percent of what their male counterparts make. \nEven when taking into account motherhood, work hours and type of career, the study shows that women are still paid substantially less than men. This inequality in pay rates has a lasting effect. \n“In part, pay equity is simply a matter of fairness,” the study states. “When women are paid less than men are for comparable work, women have few resources to support themselves and their families. Some women experience real deprivation as a result of the pay gap, especially when they enter their retirement years.” \nThe study also shows that a woman’s career choice has an effect on salary. Women who major in more “male-dominated” careers such as engineering, mathematics and physical sciences tend to make more than women who work in education, health or psychology. \nBut even when choosing a higher paying job, researchers say women are still affected by the gap. \n“In education, a female-dominated major and career, women earn 95 percent as much as their male colleagues earn. In biology, a mixed-gendered major, women make only 75 percent as much as men,” the study states. \nAAUW stressed the important role of the government in ensuring equality in the job market. Despite the progress women have made, there still remains an issue in the workplace.\nCaldeba Lomel-Loibl, gender education specialist for the UC Davis Women’s Resource Center, said the center has several programs motivated to help women become more assertive and men become more aware.\n“The Women’s Resources and Research Center is committed to working towards financial equality through our programs and workshops on salary negotiating, confidence in the classroom, self-esteem in the workplace and academia, our ‘Women on the Verge’ series (for women about to graduate) and one-on-one financial advising for staff women,” Caldeba said in an e-mail interview.