Thomas Sowell - Gender Bias and Income Disparity: A Myth?

@seans10
Mr. Sowell has a very good following, most of which exists on the right. This does not debunk him or degrade his contributions but it explains where you can find most of his work being quoted. Ironically most mainstream right wingers don't quote him, which I find fascinating since he obviously is knowledgeable enough to write scholarly books and make compelling arguments that get liberal-minded individuals like myself contemplating his views.

You're not his only admirer on the left. I think Steven Pinker is fairly liberal, and he surveys approvingly much of Sowell's work (mainly, from A Conflict of Visions) in The Blank Slate. And I was surprised recently to see David Mamet describe Sowell as "America's greatest living philosopher." Any liberal who wants to understand real conservative thought, and not some leftish caricature, would do well to read Sowell.

That's because many "conservatives" don't care to delve into complex issues because that would cut into their precious Sean Hannity time. And this is coming from an individual who identifies with the right-wing. I get my education from Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman, Charles Krauthammer, Thomas Jefferson, and Ayn Rand.

The problem with his assertion is that women would have to make that choice while men wouldn't - the disparity comes from the backlash women get from the corporate world for having babies. I understand his argument but he is forgetting that crucial connection - corporate america punishes women who want families but award men who have them. This is were the greatest need is.
Ephraim Davis

@shaicapone

Huh? He's simply saying that women's productivity will necessarily go down for the approximate 9 months of pregnancy. And when you couple this with an industry that evolves rapidly you get significant disparities between men and women. The Free Market simply reflects the underlying natural reality. Don't look at this as a bad thing. I'm a male and I'm extremely grateful for this function women provide for society.

This is only touching upon narrow variables.

The reason women remain the primary caregivers, in practical reality among the blue-collar majority, is simple. Men. Earn. More.

Not because they are favoured, but because they are more willing. The breadth of jobs that women are willing to perform, pales in comparison. Especially with physical discomfort and risk factored in. Aggregate result is that men remain mostly breadwinners, women gravitate to making homes.

"Punishes" is pure cop-out.

look we all know women are full of shit and allergic to facts. this is proved all the time at manhood101 dot c o m

"Women who were never married earned more than men who were never married"

This is a very cogent point, and the reply: Never married women are winners, and ever married men are losers, deserves a lot of attention. We need to stop gendering money, because women earn as much as we want... admittedly, I don't enjoy women's service industry privilege, but I see it. I live it. And I look forward to the fact that the existence of my tits will translate into a tip instead of a piteous stare.

@nitzwalsh86

That extra difference you'll make is what he's paying for 'the show'. It's a fair trade in his eyes. I don't see how this is a "ha ha" moment for women. If you're willing to sell your body, most men are willing to buy. This isn't outsmarting men, simply free trade.