This study debunks a common excuse for why women get paid less

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published 13 September 2016

Some people explain away the gender pay gap by arguing that women get paid less than men because they aren't aggressive enough with pay negotiations. But a new Australian study found women do ask for raises about as often as men do. They just don't get them as often.

The researchers first laid out the conventional wisdom: "Women's lower propensity to negotiate over salaries, raises, or promotions could reduce their pay relative to men's," they wrote. "The observed gender difference could reflect social factors, including women being socialized to feel that they are being pushy or overbearing."