All this talk of sexism lately has got me to wondering, with all the negative things associated with being a sexist (you’re a behind-the-times jerk, an oppressor of women, etc.), are there any positives? Turns out there might be one: according to a new study, you’re likely to earn more money. The Journal of Applied Psychology found that such “old-fashioned” men consistently out-earned more liberal-thinking men (and women) by an average of $8,000 a year. Which may leave some of you asking: what’s up with that?
The wide-ranging, wide-sampling study looked at people starting in 1979, tracking a group of more than 12,000 men and women throughout their careers since then. Subjects were asked whether “the place of women is in the home” and whether they believed that “working women contributed to the rate of juvenile delinquency.” Not surprisingly, many more men answered yes to these questions than women, but strangely, the minority of “traditional-minded” women (who answered yes) also tended to out-earn their more liberated counterparts.
The BBC interviewed a series of experts to find out why this might be the case:
Dr Magdalena Zawisza, a psychologist from Winchester University, said that there were a number of theories which might explain the difference.
She said: “It could be that more traditionally-minded men are interested in power, both in terms of access to resources – money in this case – and also in terms of a woman who is submissive.
“Another theory suggests that employers are more likely to promote men who are the sole earner in preference to those who do not – they recognize that they need more support for their families, because they are the breadwinner.”
It’s a theory. Another theory, one subscribed to be lead researcher Dr. Timothy Judge, is that “More traditional people may be seeking to preserve the historical separation of work and domestic roles – our results prove that is, in fact, the case.”
I’d love to hear from our readers on this one. What are some of your experiences in the workplace in regards to sexism and equal pay?
Comments (16)
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Think it’s possible that the discrepancy can be explained by age alone? Men and women in their 50s and 60s (who came of age before the feminist movement) should be out-earning those in their 20s.
Correlation isn’t causation.
I ran into that business of paying someone more if they have a family to support… back when I didn’t have a family to support (of course, that only applied to men 20-30 years ago). Now that I do, I can’t find anyone who thinks like that!
posted by Miss Cellania on 9-23-2008 at 12:23 pm
Arrrggghhhh! To you who pays those with a family more! I am a single woman who works in an industry that is very male dominated and for that I must work twice as hard. And to make matters worse they too think to pay those with families more. I have news for you. Being a single woman with only one income is just as hard you idiot! Arrgghh!
posted by Lindsey on 9-23-2008 at 12:40 pm
My mother, a firm believer in the ways of the traditional WASP woman, asks me constantly when I’m going to get promoted and then (this is a related question, I swear) when I’m going to have children.
Her theory is I should get all my “work-related energies” out now before I find out I want to be a stay-at-home mom — the only choice for a woman of WASP heritage.
She then shakes her head at disgust when I prove I’m becoming the black sheep of her side of the family when I answer “I’m happy where I am right now…and when we do have children, there’s a day care center where I work they’ll go to. I would go nuts staying home all day.”
My point, other than rolling my eyes at my mother whenever I get a chance, is to say traditional-minded women may think they need to get ahead and get all their “work-related energies” out before they say goodbye to full time jobs.
posted by Emily on 9-23-2008 at 12:58 pm
So now having a traditional view of gender roles is sexist?
posted by Tom on 9-23-2008 at 1:00 pm
To Tom: Yes. Nothing new there — the “traditional” view limits women’s (and men’s) choices simply because of gender. That’s sexism. Treating people (both women and men) as individuals who make their own choices, out of all possible choices, based on their own talents and desires — that’s neither sexist nor traditional.
Miss Cellania makes a very good point about earnings at different ages and stages of one’s career. That’s probably the most likely explanation. I would also point out that more liberal people often choose to take jobs in lower-paying fields like teaching, human services, or non-profit work, which would also skew earnings patterns.
posted by Southern Buddhist on 9-23-2008 at 1:40 pm
If I were traditional-minded, I’d probably try harder to make more money than my wife, rather than just being happy that one of us has a good-paying job (I’m a journalist, she’s a college professor).
And if I were really traditonal-minded, I’d marry a woman who wants (or is willing) to stay at home, forcing me to earn enough to carry the whole household. If I were in that position, I’d probably be looking for a job that pays more than the one I have.
posted by Brachinus on 9-23-2008 at 2:30 pm
With my wife miserable at her IT job (making considerably less than newer male employees) and the boost in my pay, I should make her quit and stay at home. She would be happy getting out of her current situation and I would get promoted.
I kinda like this logic.
posted by bucsfan on 9-23-2008 at 2:47 pm
Actually, the women with more liberal views tended to earn more. I think maybe you misread the BBC article:
“However, when the men were asked about their salaries, another gap emerged, with those holding “traditional” views earning significantly more.
Conversely, women who held the opposite view did earn slightly more, on average $1,500 (£833) more than women with “traditional” views.”
posted by Lag on 9-23-2008 at 3:03 pm
Maybe all the energy/stress saved not having to cook, clean or help rear children at home makes them perform better at work, thus increasing their salaries.
Tongue firmly in cheek.
Recaptcha: Colonel horribly
posted by Angeline on 9-23-2008 at 3:54 pm
I was going to say “So what, now having a traditional view of gender roles is sexist?” but then I saw Tom beat me to it. I think he might have been kidding, too. That’s what I’m going to tell myself.
posted by adrienne on 9-23-2008 at 4:46 pm
Yeah unions…. I make the same as the guy next to me…..
reCaptcha: enjoy hangings
posted by Vickey on 9-23-2008 at 5:19 pm
For the record, you can have traditional gender role views and not be sexist. Women can chose to stay at home. Sexism is forcing someone into a role based only on their sex. If I want to be traditional in my choice, then it is still my choice.
Dont you think it´s a little closed-minded to assume that all traditional people are sexist?
posted by GTT on 9-23-2008 at 6:47 pm
Quote: Maybe all the energy/stress saved not having to cook, clean or help rear children at home makes them perform better at work, thus increasing their salaries.
Actually, I think there is some truth in that. My husband is able to put more time into his career because I am a stay at home mom. Personally, I think there is a lot to the “woman behind the man” comments.
We are also able to move for promotions without consideration of whether it affects my career at the moment. He doesn’t have to take off of work to split child care, etc.
posted by Karen on 9-23-2008 at 8:08 pm
I think one explanation could be that a man who has a stay at home wife can devote more time to his work. If his wife views her job as raising the children and tending to the house, then he is not dividing his time between household chores and the office. My husband is a doctor and researcher and I will soon be staying home to raise our first child. In our situation, with him having a time consuming career, it would be challenging in my opinion for me to have a full time job outside of the house and still provide the enviroment for our kids that I prefer.
posted by Cassandra on 9-24-2008 at 11:05 am
I am a woman and I see nothing wrong with traditional values although I work right now when my fiance and I have children I will stay at home. I cook I clean I rub my man’s back after work I serve him his food …..and he takes care of me makes sure I never need anything and that I am safe we have a pretty traditional view but that doesn’t mean we are behind in the times or something is wrong with us I think women take this not being tradional thing way to far do we really want to teach our kids that it is ok to be without a partner ……humans are programmed to have someone else in their life …money does not = happiness ….love does anyways to each their own i guess
posted by K2582 on 9-24-2008 at 12:41 pm
My first thought was that those women who aren’t focused on family earn more because they don’t take a break from their career to have a family. They can just keep going, being promoted etc.
posted by Dawn on 9-29-2008 at 4:43 pm