If I became a man, would you pay me more?

[Natasha]

If I became a man, would you pay me more?

http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2008/10/07/transgender_wage_gap/
10/7/2008

OK, OK. We all know that on average, American men make more than
American women. We all know the two sides of the debate over why this
is: Some say that women pick less competitive, lower-paying careers,
and others claim women are victims of discrimination. And I dare say
that we all also know something else: Both arguments have some truth.

But Friday's Time magazine featured an article about a study that took a very
creative approach to figuring out how much discrimination might be at play. Researchers from the University of Chicago and New York University looked at the experiences of transgender people in the workforce -- that is, people who had either transitioned from male to female or female to male -- and analyzed how their gender switch affected their pay. The result, as Time puts it, "suggests that raw discrimination still remains potent in U.S. companies."

[Alyx.]

Wow...

*Not looking forward to being paid less and being seen as less competent*

[Dennis]

I've definitely had the reverse happen to me. I'm seen as more competent. I'm self-employed, so income changes are as likely to have to do with actual experience as gender, but it's noticeable how much more competent I am considered, and how little I have to do or know to appear competent.

Dennis

[tekla]

and how little I have to do or know to appear competent

I think that's the real key.