g'day UT.... this is the problem with gross averaging of pay across genders instead of occupations.. its become a tool for confusing the debate.
superannuation, sick leave and other leave entitlements, and particularly parental leave extensions etc skew the data so that natural events that women are more prone to, not because of any gender role, but purely on the physiological functions of the female body which cause women to work less overall hours.
even gender roles in the home impact how women work as they become more vulnerable to such appalling factors as DV. men don't suffer the effects as women do. add in the costs associated with employment dislocation, moving to a 'safe place' to hide form their abuser, having to bare the cost of caring for the children with whom they must, following the instinctual need to keep children closer to the mother, follow and protect.
its a highly complex problem that a simple average earnings of 40+ years does adequately describe with nuance needed to address inequality.
