U.S. Female college graduates have a median starting salary offer 17% lower than male college graduates according to a new report by the
National Association of Colleges and Employers. The report found that females with new bachelor degrees were offered an average of $36,451 compared to $44,159 for their male counterparts. Even when salary is adjusted by college major (14 were included), men come out ahead in all except two areas: engineering and liberal arts/humanities. Report author Edwin Koc noted that while gender pay disparities are often linked to women more frequently leaving the work force, he did not feel that was the cause in this study.
Just when you begin to believe work discrimination is over when it come to sex and gender, another report comes out that questions the progress women have made when it comes to pay equity. When the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution failed to pass in the mid-70s many felt that progress was still being made in areas like sex harrassment, access to formerly male dominant fields, etc. and took their placards home. Now, with the economy on the downturn, perhaps it is time to lift up those placards again and fight against fiscal discrimination for women!