Baggage Check: Paying for Pay Equality?

Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.

GROUNDBREAKING NEW RESEARCH suggests that men who hold more egalitarian views of gender roles make less money than men who hold more "traditional" gender role beliefs.

Now, before we all assume it's because all the egalitarian dudes became kindergarten teachers, the most fascinating part of this finding is that it held true when comparing men across the exact same jobs and amount of hours worked. In other words, it isn't just that men with more egalitarian views are choosing lower-pressure jobs or working shorter hours to be with their families. It's that hour for hour, for presumably the same duties performed, men with more egalitarian views are getting paid less than those who see the world through Ward Cleaver's glasses. (Sadly, it comes as no surprise that women made less than both groups of men, with the traditional-gender-roled women making the least of all.)

Two basic explanations have been publicized for this rather surprising finding. Either the egalitarian men themselves are worse at negotiating their pay, or there is more systematic discrimination going on, in that those who don't conform to a certain stereotype are being punished via paycheck.

But thanks to a discussion with my (wonderful and egalitarian — Ramen noodles, anyone?) husband, further ideas have come to light. Although many job titles and descriptions might be created equal, office cultures — and bosses — certainly are not.

What about the possibility that more egalitarian men are choosing to work in offices with more egalitarian attitudes overall — places that are thus distributing the money more equally across men and women? Might it be that the egalitarian men are taking the monetary hit, knowingly or unknowingly, to work in an office that pays its women their fair share?

Or, what if egalitarian men are less likely to be hitting the golf course with their bosses on weekends, or the cigar bar with cronies after work? It's certainly not out of the question that that could diminish their chances of a raise.

Moreover, we can't forget the question of the chicken and the egg. Might it be that the more money a man makes, the more likely he is to adopt traditional gender role beliefs? Or, taking it even further: perhaps the more money a man makes, the more likely he is to have more traditional social beliefs, which in turn helps him climb the ladder, making him more money?

Clearly, this topic is ripe for further exploration and research. If I do it myself, perhaps I'll call myself "William, Who Doesn't Do Dishes" when writing the grant proposal.

Talk back to Dr. Andrea by leaving a comment below. To ask a question for Baggage Check in the Express print edition, e-mail baggage@readexpress.com or submit an anonymous question here.