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Allison Haley - Research Paper Argument 2/opposition
Allison Haley - Research Paper Argument 2/opposition
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
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
that women do not have the capability of climbing the corporate ladder, but the fact is 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
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 a
company. Though feminists claim that it is a matter of sex, it is not, and the “facts” they use to