ABSTRACT
The factors that cause a persistent gender pay gap are explored with attention to career disruption, job referral, and the motherhood penalty. In addition, there are three more reasons that explain the persistence of the gender pay gap: the motherhood penalty, women's lack of salary negotiation, and the underrepresentation of women in top management/leadership positions and on corporate boards. There is a relationship between the length of unemployment and the wage penalty. Motherhood has a salary penalty associated with it that has been documented by many sources and has existed for decades. This chapter examines a few of the many reasons for the persistence of the gender pay gap. Women get fewer job referrals than men and the monetary reward is smaller for women's job referrals. Women receive a motherhood penalty while men receive a fatherhood bonus. Women are less likely to negotiate their salaries than men.
