I am the proud father of a 2 week year old boy. When I make more than my wife, the government gives whatever is less out of 55% of wages OR ~$475/week and she provides milk for him then unfortunately there is little choice of who takes leave. Besides a mother is more connect with her baby at this very young and needy age, I am doing a good job as a father but the fact is that my baby’s mother is better equipped for the task. There is also very little acceptance for a man to take paternity leave and it can be be a career killer.

This how I see things but not necessarily how I myself act:
As long as women choose “easier” careers they will on average earn less than men. Whether it is correct or not the fact is that society expects men to “bring home the bacon”. This is perpetuated even back to the demand of many women still that the man pay for the first few dates, this means that men take a financial risk with the uncertainty of early dating as just one example.

Women would be better empowered to stop playing the victim. Women have come a long ways and would be better not to represent things as so dire, because they aren’t. Women have to help change societies ideals through their own actions and to encourage men.

Stats can be made to support just about any point of view, and with regard to comparison of men’s and women’s wages there are many issues that could affect earnings, even if both were on the same wage scale. On AVERAGE a woman’s annual wage might be lessened due to any of the following compared to her equivalently paid male co-worker, and while some are societal, others may be science-based.

- Women may take more sick days. While some of this may be attributed to actual differences in health between women & men, some is undoubtedly due to child or parent care – a nurturing thing, which women seem to engage at a greater rate than men. Are women more compassionate? Probably.

- Women, on average will lose days worked to maternity related events. They are paid the same when they work, but not while on maternity leave. Men participate in this life event differently!

- Women are more likely to be care givers, and in my small experience, more likely to be the ones who take time away from work to help their children participate in their life-skills experiences, taking the day off to go on the field trip, etc.

Each of these examples supports the thesis that women earn less than men, even in situations where both are on the same wage scale. The activities these individuals engage in is of considerable value to the individuals involved, family, and even society as a whole, but still provides ammunition to the statistician.

Always question a statistic — the presenter has a reason for choosing it. And remember — half the population is below average. ( But of course, none of the readers here are in that category!)

Stirrin’ the pot.

DAvid

Could it be that there are some couples with children where the children’s incomes is also included into the family figures? That could explain why the average is higher but not that much so – because a) children’s incomes is generally not that high and b) the percentage of households where children have income which is included is also not high.

Just a guess…

How does this work? Are there lots of couples with more than two earners to bring up the average?

The latter doesn’t seem to me to be worth debating, while the former is the one that can point to areas of unfairness and discrimination. I believe this is what is causing confusion here.

This corresponds to a time period where governments shifted the tax burden from corporations to individual taxation, particularly on the middle class.

Average incomes have remained stagnant over the last 25 years. In fact, the only thing really keeping middle class families middle class over the last 25 years has been the massive entrance of women into the labour market.

So with stagnant wages, rising inflation, and a rising tax burden as governments shifted its revenue sources from corporate taxes to taxation at the individual level, is there any surprise as to why savings rates are low and indebtedness is high?

I’m also concerned about statistics showing womens’ pay being less than mens’ for the same job. I’ve read several studies looking at different things, but it holds. What concerns me is arguments like Bob’s, where it is assumed that the woman “has the choice” to work or not work whereas a man does not. This is culturally determined, not inherent to anything. I wish I knew more stay-at-home dads. They also have the choice to stay at home while the mom goes to work, but it’s largely male prerogative as a large influence upon these decisions too. I cringe when I keep reading that the male breadwinner and his wife talked things over and it’s always “she” who wants to stay home with the kid and how it’s always seen as more desirable somehow that “she” does this. So I think the cultural determination hurts both ways. This is also a factor into why women earn less statistically than men and why the factors causing that number need to be improved. Big issue, can’t make too long of a comment about it here. Was just going to say that I agree with Melanie, but then I saw Bob’s comment.

Agree that the taxes have gone up dramatically since 1961, but the articles didn’t put much emphasis on the importance of CPP and Universal Health Care (both inception in 1966) that we enjoy today. Perhaps some correlation? They are not perfect in any means, but many do benefit from them and someone has to pay for them.

Best, Alexandra (the Wealthy Baker)

I find it so hard to interpret the actual numbers (other than the trend of increased debt and reduced savings – which sorta go hand-in-hand).

If these types of numbers are alarming, then if you took the ‘average’ Canadian and compared him/her to my family – you’d think I was about to declare bankruptcy.

Men make more money because there are alot of jobs out there that men do that women are not willing to (that pay well)..just the construction sector alone is huge..If you became a plumber, you’ll get paid a plumbers wage regardless of sex. But if you are not willing to do the same jobs then you wont get paid the same wage. Most women work in offices and so you are restricted in earnings, very simple. Nobody is going to pay a secratery the same wage as a heavy duty mechanic.. so that is how the averages get dragged down.