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Women will make somewhere between 77 cents and 80 cents for every dollar a man makes after working for one year after college.
That's 80 percent. Eighty friggin' percent.
According to a new study released by the American Association of University Women, the wage gap widens after 10 years. Full-time working women make about 69 percent as much as their male colleagues.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the female-to-male income ratio for full-time, year-round employees was 77 cents to every dollar in 2005. This hadn't changed from 2004.
So what are the causes for the wage gap? And more importantly, how do we solve it?
The so-called "Mommy Track?" Yes and no. Men and women are just as likely to have families 10 years after college. But women take a different approach to dealing with the work-life balance, resulting in fewer women working full-time.
Segregation in the work force? Yes. Society reinforces what jobs are appropriate for each sex and makes certain occupations female-dominated and others male. Different jobs mean different pay.
Authority and flexibility in the work force? Yes. Men are more likely to be supervisors, hire and fire employees, and set pay rates.
College choices? Yes. Attending a "less-selective" school doesn't affect a man's wages, but it drastically lowers a woman's wages.
If you, as a woman, feel like you aren't taken seriously (I've experienced this, but it can be a source for motivation), make sure you take yourself seriously. Believing in yourself will allow you to prove everyone who didn't give you a chance wrong.
Instead of being passive, as women often are viewed, let's fight. With enough push and strength we'll have no trouble shattering the glass ceilings.
When applying for a job or a pay raise, don't be afraid to negotiate. Once women are higher on the ladder we can change the standards for benefits, including better childcare, higher wages and longer leaves with higher pay.
With graduation approaching, you female graduates better be ready to start making a change for the rest of us. Don't be afraid to ask for higher wages. Change only comes when we take action.
Kourtney can be reached at featureseditor@theorion.com
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