My daughter worked for a national pet co here in Anchorage for over two years. She was their reptile specialist. Just before she quit, two young men were hired at $11 an hour. My daughter was making $9.20 an hour (and that's with two .10 cent raises!)  It isn't just happening because women aren't taking jobs in the higher level job market. Most of the women I've worked with through my lifetime have worked 40+ hours a week. Most couldn't take time off to be with their kids. They had to work to put food on the table and roof over their heads.