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Sociology / Unit 7   Soc 1091 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Gender Wage Gap: How It's Measured

Captions available

The idea

The gender wage gap is reported as the ratio of women's to men's median full-time earnings, shaped by which jobs each sex holds.

In practice

Comparing two ratios computed differently — with or without controlling for occupation — shifts the gap's size without any wage having changed.

Where people slip

Read a reported wage-gap figure by first asking what was controlled for and what was left in.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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