Allison Haley

EN 102

Research Paper

29 March 2021

Fallacious Feminists

Alongside the abortion controversy is the issue of unequal pay, which is a powerful point

in the feminist’s argument. In their textbook titled Psychology in Everyday Life, psychologists

David G. Myers and C. Nathan DeWall observe that “[w]omen in traditionally male occupations

have received less than their male colleagues” (110). If one does not believe the word of two

respectable psychologists, then perhaps facts would convince him. When comparing the salary of

physicians, it was reported that, on average, females made $150,053 while their male

counterparts made $211,526 (Myers and DeWall 110). Most physicians have the same amount of

education; the only difference is gender, so why, then, is income drastically different? The

feminists are onto something by making unequal pay be the main point of their argument.

Though unequal pay is an issue, there have been many improvements that benefit

women, with one of them being education. In the article “Wage Gap between Men and Women

almost Closed for Millennials,” Kim Parker, the director of the Pew Social & Demographic

Trends Project, exclaims that women are surpassing men when it comes to education (qtd. in De

Groote par. 4). If this is true, then why are feminists claiming otherwise? Is Parker correct?

According to Pew Research Center, the answer is yes. "Pew finds that women ages 18 to 24 are

more likely than similarly aged men to be in college (45 percent vs. 38 percent in 2012). Women

ages 25 to 32 are also more likely to have completed college than men in that age group" (De

Groote par. 5). Women have the capabilities to achieve as much and possibly more than men;
after all, higher education tends to lead to a more successful life. Though this evidence itself

proves the irrelevance of the feminist argument, there is more to this issue.

Another improvement is that women can get higher-paying jobs--something that was not

possible years ago but has since become more prominent due to women’s higher education.

Many feminists claim that women cannot climb the corporate ladder; however, this is far from

true. Take, for instance, the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, which

make up a popular and fast-growing industry. In this industry, Myers and DeWall claim that there

is an increase in supply and demand for females as they are more likely to earn higher college

grades, get more college degrees, and show equal competence to men when it comes to

STEM-related activities. Besides that, there have been studies that have shown that most U.S.

professors preferred hiring women over their equal male counterparts (114). Women are gaining

an advantage over men in an industry that provides numerous jobs. If one needs more evidence,

then he must simply look around him. "Women have achieved high political office, have headed

Fortune 500 corporations, and taken their places alongside men in virtually every job and

profession (with the possible exception of jobs demanding a certain degree of physical strength)”

(George and Wagner par. 8). This is a stark contrast from the 1960s, which is when women were

beginning to enter the workforce. The nation has come a long way; however, the feminists refuse

to acknowledge this. Though this too shows the irrelevancy of the feminist movement, one must

persist into the depths of this controversy. If it is neither education nor the ability to get a

higher-paying job, then what is causing this apparent wage gap?

The main reason behind the wage gap can be chalked up to women’s choices. According

to Deseret News writer Michael De Groote, “Thirty-four percent of young women say they do

not want to be a boss or top manager--10 percent more often than young men” (par. 11). It is not
as if women do not have the capability of climbing the corporate ladder, but the fact that they

choose not to. In society, positions of power usually offer more money; this preference might

explain why there is a gap at all. Another contributing factor may be women’s decision to stay

home. Kay Hymowitz, a contributing editor at City Journal, supports this assessment, exclaiming

that most of the pay gap is due to women taking time off (qtd. in De Groote par. 25). It is

traditional for women to want to stay home with their children; however, that does not mean they

are forced to. Depending on the family dynamic, sometimes men tend to the kids while the

mother goes into the workforce. No matter the gender, though, it was reported that "[b]oth men

and women who had to take steps to adjust work because of family say it was worth it; 94

percent say they are glad they did it" (De Groote par. 30). This proves that not only was it the

individuals’ decision, but that it was one they were happy to have made. Based on the previous

evidence, the wage gap is entirely based on one’s personal choices, not gender. Sure, women

earn less than men, but that could be because they work fewer hours or do not want to run the

company. Though feminists claim that it is a matter of sex, it is not, and the “facts” they use to

support this claim misconstrue situations.