@ashbg.motherhood: We have been told for years that the gender pay gap exists because women take time off to have children but the reality is that female graduates earn less than male graduates. It is one of the most convenient explanations in existence. It makes the gap sound like a choice, or perhaps a natural consequence of a personal decision rather than evidence of a system that undervalues women from the moment they enter it. But it turns out female graduate salaries are already just 90.9% of male graduate salaries. Not after career breaks. Not after children. Not after years of part time work and flexibility arrangements and all the other things we are told cause the gap. Right at the start, fresh out of university, same qualification, same field, same… everything. Women often start their careers earning less, a gap of 6%, which grows over time to 18% as careers progress. She has not taken a career break yet. She has not had children yet. She has not asked for flexibility or reduced her hours or made any of the choices we are told are responsible for the gap. She is just a woman and that is already costing her. Gender equality specialist Leonora Risse wrote about this in their latest article for The Conversation: “Female graduates are earning less than their male peers. What might be causing the gap?”

Ash BG

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Region: AU

Wednesday 08 July 2026 11:09:56 GMT