EXPRESS READING GENDER GAP

EXPRESS READING

GENDER GAP

Although women have made huge strides in catching up with

men in the workplace, a gender gap still persists both in

wages and levels of advancement. Commonly cited explanations

for this gap range from charges of sex discrimination to claims

that women are more sensitive than men to work versus family

conflicts and thus less inclined to make sacrifices for their

careers. Now, however, two new studies suggest that another

factor may be at work: a deeply ingrained difference in the

way men and women react to competition that manifests itself

even at an early age. Apparently, females tend to be far less

responsive to competition than males - a tendency with important

implications for women and business. It may hurt women in highly

competitive labour markets, for example, and hinder efficient

job placement - especially for positions in which competitiveness

is not a useful trait.