ARGUING YES
Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer of the Pay Equity Commission of Ontario
ARGUING NO
Economist, Bloomberg Opinion Contributor & Senior Fellow
at the Manhattan Institute
GUEST MODERATOR
Journalist and Host of “Smart Girl Dumb Questions”
This week:
- The Gender Wage Gap: Is it time for policy interventions?
- A closer look at how the gender wage gap is affected by education levels
- Get excited for March Madness by listening to our sports gambling debate
- Your Sunday reading list
Last year, 78.4% of women aged 25 to 54 participated in the workforce, more than ever in history, and it’s been good for the economy. But one particular factor stands in the way of meaningful financial rewards that affect all women and their partners and families: the gender wage gap.
Though it has narrowed over the last twenty years, some say that these disparities are a matter of individual choices women make concerning career paths, work-life balance, and tenure rather than any systemic discrimination. Others say policy interventions are urgently needed to achieve pay parity.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re taking another look at this question with seven women. Guest moderator Nayeema Raza and all-female debaters and expert questioners Kadie Ward Philp and Allison Schrager, and Stacey Vanek Smith, Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez, Emma Hinchliffe, and Lyz Lenz took part in the debate.
Can immediate policy solutions be implemented now to achieve pay equity? Should the gender wage gap be addressed? Listen to the debate now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and NPR. As always, let us know what you think.
DEBATING THE DATA
What is causing this wage gap to remain — and how can we close it?
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Should We Address the Gender Wage Gap?
YES: Kadie Ward Philp
“The gender wage gap needs to be addressed because it can be addressed through decisive policy action. The gender wage gap was once 59 cents on the male dollar in 1960, and it’s now about 84 cents. This cannot be credited merely to the invisible hand of the market. This happened because of activism, changing social norms, changing labor dynamics, and through various forms of targeted proactive legislations. Governments that have recognized that the gender pay gap is multifaceted and requires policy intervention are making huge strides in reducing its severity.”
NO: Allison Schrager
“The biggest wage gaps tend to be things like corporate law, banking, places where they want you to be there all the time. Being there when your employer wants is really valuable to them, and it’s a tradeoff. Some women genuinely desire to be present for their children’s childhood. There’s nothing wrong with that. This really drives a lot of the gender wage gap. That’s why policy has less of a role to play: because it makes these decisions that are very personal — her job, her family, her needs — much more rigid.”
Ready for March Madness? Listen to Our Sports Gambling Debate Now
Are you hoping for a perfect bracket during this March Madness? According to the American Gambling Association, it’s estimated Americans will gamble $3.1 billion on the men’s and women’s tournaments. But is this a good thing?
Recently, we debated the question: Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become A Bad Bet?
Arguing Yes: Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute
Arguing No: Bill Pascrell III, Partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group
Guest Moderator: Nayeema Raza, Journalist and Host of “Smart Girl Dumb Questions”
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Keep An Open Mind
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