I am by no means an economic expert, however, as a raging feminist, I woke up this morning with a certain understanding that the pay gap was a real thing.
My understanding was that, on average, women in the UK make 15% less than their male counterparts. The Atlantic also seemed to be under similar statistical illusions as they reported yesterday that female editor-in-chiefs make $15,000 less than their male counterparts.
Alexander Abad-Santos wrote that in a survey of 513 editors, men with the titles of editor-in-chief or editorial director received an average of $100,800 compared to women with the same titles who received $85,100. However, thanks to the sleuth work The Atlantic's sociologically savvy readers, it would appear these numbers are false.
In fact, the pay gap itself is false, if not an absolute myth - like a centaur, sphinx, or Lady Gaga's penis.
Never mind whatever error-ridden survey The Atlantic decided to site as research for their "Statistic of the Day" feature - one commenter linked to the article Steve Tobak wrote in 2011 siting various reasons why the pay gap is a "complete myth", such as "Men are far more likely to work in higher-paying fields and occupations (by choice)." Well, that's that sorted, then...
"Women have been duped!"
Tobak's piece linked to a story in the Wall Street Journal written by Carrie Lukas about said alleged "pay gap" which starts off by pondering why so few women were rallying on Equal Pay Day. Lukas suggests it could be because feminists felt "awkward" protesting in front of a "liberal-dominated government" or, even more likely, it was because "they know that the recent economic downturn has exposed as ridiculous their claims that our economy is ruled by a sexist patriarchy."
Yes! How ridiculous!
Lukas, I should note, is also the author of a fantastic book called The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex and Feminism, which clears up all of those LIES women have been told by hairy-legged feminazis:
"In The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex, and Feminism, Carrie Lukas, a young career woman and new mother, sets the record straight: correcting the lies women have been told and slamming the door on the screaming harpies of NOW, feminist professors, and the rest of the bra-burners who have done so much to wreck women’s lives."
And as Lukas is a YOUNG CAREER WOMAN and a NEW MOTHER and a WOMAN, you know that she's speaking the truth!
The annoying if not completely preposterous thing with politics and online discussions about feminism is that a statistic, study or op-ed stating a counterargument can be found for absolutely anything. Think that being gay is a choice, CHECK OUT THIS LINK. Think there's a pay gap? LOOK AT THIS ARTICLE STATING OTHERWISE.
Tit for Tat, Stat for Stat
The worrying thing about this, is that not everyone seems to have the logic or common sense to go, "Wait, just because this is spewing statistics and is published online doesn't necessarily mean it's true..."
Which makes more sense - that feminists are completely off their rockers and are out to wreck women's lives with myths about there being, for example, a 23% pay gap in London alone?
Or that perhaps there really is still a problem in the way we value women's work?