Ground zero Book

This book focused on pointing out that women make 77 cents to every dollar made by a man. It systematically explored potential explanations for this and concluded that the lions share of the reason is probably discrimination. I believe that is the case as well. It is also largely the case that women seem to be more risk averse than men. Repeatedly throughout the book it gives suggestions for how to increase women’s salaries and then tries to give suggestions that “need not cost a woman her job.” Then, rather telling, later in the book it casually mentions a managers comment that the reason he is paying a particular man more is that he knows that the man will leave if he doesn’t pay him. Thus women are portrayed repeatedly in the book as afraid of loosing their jobs while men are willing to threaten leaving as a negotiating tool. Not surprisingly, men get paid more. I don’t for a second think this explains the wage gap. There is still much discrimination including sexual harassment. But it is an important thing to consider. Ideally the job world would work on strict meritocracy, instead negotiating power is a must, not just ability at your everyday job.