Friday, February 20, 2009

Pitt Hosts Gender Wage Gap Conference

The University of Pittsburgh hosted the Gender Wage Gap Conference today to discuss the latest research and responses to wage disparities. Pitt Law School Professor Deborah Brake says legislation is needed beyond the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act because there are still legal loopholes. She says fair, strong laws give employers the right incentives to examine proactively their own employment policies to make sure they don't discriminate.

Sabina Deitrick, a researcher at Pitt's Center for Social and Urban Research, says it's not just a matter of policy solutions either. Research shows some women have lower salary expectations to begin with and fail to negotiate effectively. Workshops and training could help with such behavioral issues.

According to Deitrick, the current recession is so far having more of an impact on traditionally male occupations, but stimulus projects will likewise help those professions like manufacturing and construction.

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