American Association of University Women Educational Foundation recently released its new “Behind the Pay Gap” study detailing how women persistently and consistently earn less than men - even after adjusting for parenthood and occupational differences.

The Facts 

  • New female graduates earn about 80 cents to a dollar earned by their male counterparts.
  • After 10 years, the gap widens to 31%.
  • Men not only earn more, they rise faster.

Some reasons cited by the study are possible gender discrimination and women gravitating to lower paying occupations.

Suze Orman has another possible reason - women take what is offered without negotiating.

Read more in Suze Orman’s article, “Fill in the gender pay gap by defending your worth” (Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 2007).