Gender Differences in Income

Since the start of the women's movement, women have been told they're equal to men in all facets of life. But in the area of financial security, inequality still rules.

A host of statistics supports the theory:

 

• The Census Bureau says the income differential between men and women is improving -- but not equal. In 2001, women earned 76 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• On average, women spend 11.5 years out of the workforce during their lifetime, according to the Women's Institute for Financial Education (WIFE). That means lower income levels and lower levels of retirement savings for women.
• Because women tend to spend time out of the workforce raising their children, they earn fewer Social Security credits, which leads to lower benefits than for men.
• WIFE says fewer women are in jobs that offer pension benefits. Fifty-five percent of men receive pension benefits at retirement, compared to only 32 percent of women.

While women fight for equality in the boardroom and elsewhere, one author says we should consider leveling the playing field by treating our daughters differently than our sons.

That's right, differently.