By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS Priest
For decades, feminists and left-leaning activists have pushed the narrative that women are systematically underpaid compared to men. The so-called "gender pay gap" is often cited as proof of rampant discrimination in the workplace. However, this claim is based on misleading statistics that fail to account for key differences in career choices, work hours, and personal priorities between men and women. In reality, when comparing apples to apples—considering education, industry, job title, and experience—the pay gap all but vanishes.
The Myth of the 77 Cents on the Dollar Statistic
One of the most frequently cited figures is that women earn "77 cents for every dollar a man earns." However, this number is a broad aggregate that does not factor in differences in profession, experience, or hours worked. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), when comparing men and women in the same job with the same qualifications, the pay gap shrinks significantly, often to just a few percentage points—explained largely by career breaks, part-time work, and personal choices (BLS, 2023).
OnlyFans: A Case Study in Female Economic Dominance
If the gender pay gap were truly about discrimination, why do we see industries where women out-earn men? The most glaring example is OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform where content creators—predominantly female—rake in millions while their male counterparts struggle to compete. According to OnlyFans' internal data, the top earners on the platform are overwhelmingly women, with some making as much as $20 million a month (Forbes, 2022).
The rise of OnlyFans highlights a truth that many mainstream media outlets ignore: Women have economic opportunities that men simply do not. They dominate lucrative industries such as modeling, beauty influencing, and adult content. No one cries "gender discrimination" when female Instagram influencers secure multi-million-dollar brand deals at rates exponentially higher than male influencers.
Career Choices and Work-Life Balance
Men and women tend to gravitate toward different fields, with men overwhelmingly represented in physically demanding, high-risk, and high-paying careers like construction, engineering, and IT security. Meanwhile, women are more likely to work in social services, education, and administrative roles—fields that typically offer lower salaries but more flexibility (Pew Research, 2023).
Additionally, studies have shown that women are more likely than men to prioritize work-life balance over climbing the corporate ladder. According to a Harvard Business Review report, women, on average, are more likely to leave the workforce temporarily to raise children or work fewer hours to accommodate family responsibilities. These choices, not systemic oppression, explain wage differences (Harvard Business Review, 2021).
The True Wage Gap: Dangerous Jobs and Overtime
The wage gap narrative also ignores the "death gap." Men make up 92% of workplace fatalities, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 2022). This is because they are overrepresented in dangerous professions that pay a premium due to risk—like logging, roofing, and oil drilling. Men also work more overtime hours than women, further widening earnings disparities (BLS, 2023).
Conclusion: The Gender Pay Gap Is a Myth
When looking at the full picture, the gender pay gap is not a result of discrimination but of choices, market forces, and biological realities. Women have opportunities—like OnlyFans and influencer marketing—that men simply do not. Meanwhile, men are more likely to pursue high-paying but dangerous and demanding jobs. The reality is that women and men, when controlling for all relevant factors, are paid fairly based on their contributions.
The continued push of the gender pay gap myth serves only to fuel division and resentment. Instead of demanding artificial equity, we should focus on creating a society where individuals—regardless of gender—are free to pursue careers that align with their skills, interests, and personal goals.
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