THE GENDER PAY GAP IN THE UNITED STATES: A HISTORY OF INEQUALITY AND STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN

Abstract

This research aims at shedding the light on the social, economic, and political factors contributing to the evolutionary history of the gender pay gap in the United States between the 1960 and 2013, and providing a comprehensive explanation for the sex-based wage disparities. This paper will draw upon sources; like reports from governmental departments, Supreme Court cases, and Congress legislation. Upon the examination of the data collected, it is revealed that the gender pay gap in the period under study was significantly reduced. This research work concludes that the root causes of the gender-based pay differences in the United States are the combination of both; the preferences of women regarding family and employment and the systemic sex discrimination in the American labor market.