Debate queation: One important issue in the "Gender Pay" debate is that it looks only at cash compensation. However, the average employer spends almost another 40% on employee benefits such as health insurance and paid time off. Many women choose jobs that offer more benefits instead of more cash compensation. It is also true that some benefits (e.g. healthcare insurance and costs are higher for women than for men).
The Debate will focus on the question: If employee benefits were included with cash compensation there would be no difference between the average total compensation of men vs. women
Note that there are two parts of this argument:
1) Women (on average) voluntarily choose employers who offer a higher percentage of compensation in Benefits than in Cash.
2) The average cost of healthcare and paid time off (e.g. Family and Medical Leave Act) is much greater for women on average than for men on average.