If we compare wages of men and women who work 40 hours a week, without accounting for any differences in jobs, training, or time in the labor force, Labor Department data show the gender wage ratio increases to 86 percent. . . .Marriage and children explain some of the wage gap, because many mothers value flexible schedules. In 2009 single women working full-time earned 95% of men’s earnings, but married women earned 76%, even before accounting for differences in education, jobs, and experience.

[Figure 1-1]

When the wage gap is analyzed by individual occupations, jobs and employee characteristics, regional labor markets, job titles, job responsibility, and experience; then the wage gap shrinks even more. When these differences are considered, many studies show that men and women make about the same.

. . . .

Although individual cases of discrimination still take place, there is no evidence that discrimination is systematic and persistent. The Korn/Ferry executive search firm reported in July that, by 2007, women were represented on corporate boards in 85 percent of the Fortune 1000 companies, compared with 78 percent in 2001, 53 percent in 1988 and 11 percent in 1973. This growth is notable for women, and there is no reason to believe that it has stalled.

The danger is not that progress for women in slowing, but that Congress will overreact to false discrimination claims and pass legislation that will slow the growth of jobs in America for both men and women.