Cindy, a tenured, full professor of French literature at a large university, is

Question

Cindy, a tenured, full professor of French literature at a large university, is paid $60,000. The university reports median salaries by gender and rank as a new initiative on faculty compensation. From reading the report, Cindy learns that she is paid $20,000 below the median for male, tenured, full professors. She is also paid $12,000 below the median for female, tenured, full professors. What factors might explain Cindy’s position in the wage distribution? Why might or might not the university be engaged in gender discrimination?

Explanation / Answer

The first factor is the years of experience and the position within the rank that makes Cindy to get lower than the median salaries. The second factor is the subject or the department that affects the salary issued to the professors of a particular department. If courses offered by the department are low prices, then salary will also be lower than the professors of high priced courses. The third reason is the variable part of the salary that can make the difference. Due to lack of opportunities to earn maximum variable income, it will also affect the actual salary received by Cindy.
The university might be engaged in gender discrimination as there is a difference between the median salaries given to male and female employees (professors). It is the reason that Cindy is getting a bigger difference from the median salary of the male full tenure, professors. As per the EEOC, there should be no any discrimination of any degree on the basis of gender among the other different basis of discrimination. For one profile, male and female should be given the equal salary, though it can vary with the difference in experience, responsibilities and qualification.

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