The wage gap exists, in part, because many women and people of color are still segregated into a few low-paying occupations. More than half of all women workers hold sales, clerical and service jobs. Studies show that the more an occupation is dominated by women or people of color, the less it pays. Part of the wage gap results from differences in education, experience or time in the workforce. But a significant portion cannot be explained by any of those factors; it is attributable to discrimination. In other words, certain jobs pay less because they are held by women and people of color.Does the evidence support the claim that discrimination explains a significant portion of the gender wage gap? Not really. Let's explore further. And without even considering any empirical evidence, the claim would be unbelievable prima facie. Reason? It would mean that thousands of employers across the country could easily and immediately save 23% on their labor costs by hiring only women (or firing all of their male workers and hiring female workers). That is, it couldn't possibly be true that the gender pay gap is mostly due to discrimination, because it would mean that profit-seeking employers all across the country have overlooked an easy way to save 23% on their main cost - labor.
"What are you offering to Iuliia [Yuliya]? Is there an agreement you would like to send us?," the Stepanovs wrote in the email dated September 2016 after Bach allegedly offered Yuliya support for "her life" but also "her future [sporting career]", which allegedly centered around her joining the National Olympic Committee.
"We would like to confirm, YES, Iuliia needs support," the Stepanovs wrote. "What kind of support are you offering for Iullia's life and for her future? How is the IOC willing to support Iuliia's sports career? Is there a process of joining a National Olympic Committee? Is the IOC willing to help with this process?"
"Vitaly would also like to add that he will greatly appreciate any assistance in his job search. Due to his lack of education, it will be a difficult task. So maybe there is a chance he could be assisted through an Olympic Scholarship as well, so he can get the necessary education and try to help to make the Olympic Movement even better," the couple said in the email.
Sweden first issued an advisory pamphlet on how to cope with the outbreak of war in the 1940s. The pamphlet was delivered to every Swedish household, telling them how to prepare for and act in a national crisis. Of course, in 1991 when the Cold War ended, the leaflet was discontinued.
But after 30 years where the pamphlet fell into redundancy, the Swedish government has decided to resurrect it.
Sweden is now reissuing the pamphlet-named Om kriget kommer (If War Comes)-to every household in Sweden during the country's Emergency Preparedness Week in the end of May this year. It will be delivered to some 4.7 million Swedish households.
Comment: Facts are important things. They help us see through assumptions and to question what is driving continued belief in those assumptions.
See also:
Does a gender wage gap exist? 6 feminist myths that refuse to die