Vox: Most of our progress on the wage gap was in the ’80s and ’90s. What gives, 21st century?
Since 2001, the gap has only closed 2.3 percentage points. (From 76.3 cents on the dollar to 78.6 — that “79 cents” figure is rounded up.)
What gives, 21st century?
“A lot of the gains we saw in the ’80s and ’90s were by women catching up in terms of experience, and to some extent education — but also overtaking men on education,” said Ariane Hegewisch, program director of employment and earnings at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). “It was like a catch-up effect, as well as getting rid of glaring discrimination.”