5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

In recent decades, gender wage gaps have been decreasing in most advanced economies. Despite this progress, significant wage disparities between men and women persist, with men still earning considerably higher wages than women. While there have been tendencies for convergence, especially in Europe, significant cross-country differences remain. Recently, new studies using advanced methodological approaches and administrative data have greatly enhanced our understanding of the size, structure, and explanatory factors of gender wage gaps. Factors such as motherhood wage penalties, gendered part-time work, and different career choices have been highlighted as key reasons behind men’s economic advantages over women. On the macro-level, research suggests that gender wage gaps are influenced by the structure of the welfare state and the economy, which reflect traditional ideas about gender roles and family ideals. Despite these advancements, debates concerning measurement issues and theoretical approaches remain open. Central points of contention include the distinctions between unadjusted and adjusted gender wage gaps, as well as the contrast between explanatory mechanisms such as statistical and taste-based discrimination. To contribute to the growing body of empirical knowledge and overcome existing divides in the literature, this session invites presentations of empirical research aimed at addressing how gender wage gaps can be reduced. Research questions may include, but are not limited to, explanations for existing gender wage gaps, individuals' perceptions and beliefs about the size or causes for these gaps, and the factors influencing policy preferences that can either perpetuate or mitigate gender inequalities in the labor market.