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Notes -
I’m not suggesting that they don’t work hard or that the money doesn’t go to family finances. What I’m suggesting is that since they are not the primary breadwinners, women get to think of the fringe benefits of the jobs they want, whether or not the environment is nice, whether or not the work is fulfilling or fun. They get to decide if they want a promotion at work. And they can generally do so because if they don’t make as much money as they possibly can, they have the income of a higher earning man to fall back on. The difference isn’t work ethic but job selection, and whether or not they push hard for promotions or job hop for better wages. The men I know have to prioritize their careers, work longer than is healthy, push very hard for training and plumb assignments and promotions, and are always looking for more money. Not because they want to, but because as the primary breadwinner if they don’t get as much money as they can, the family suffers.
Women as a whole don’t tend to do that. They aren’t hunting for better paying options, they don’t job hunt or put themselves in the limelight looking for promotions or assignments to pad the resume. They don’t tend to spend their free time trying to upskill so they can move up. They sort of find a pleasant environment with people and tasks they like and rest there until they retire.
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