This article complains about pay gap but then goes on to give some of the reasons:  women working part-time, child-rearing etc.  Make up your mind.  

Men are also more likely to compete for or accept management positions.  I only worked with one man who turned down a supervisory role but saw many women take a pass.  Men are more likely to move for work or take dangerous jobs.  97% of workplace fatalities are men.  Can you imagine the outrage if it was women who enjoyed this "privilege"?  

I was watching a "Firing Line" show with William Buckley from the 1970s and they were debating this subject.  In the late 80s, the company I was working at conducted an audit of sorts re pay equity thanks to recent legislation.  Even then everyone knew it was a charade.     And here we are in 2017 still debating this!  

Google Wente's Globe article "Do women really have it better in Sweden?" Turns out that people in the most advanced societies are MORE likely to choose traditional gender roles.