Is Rachel Maddow sincere?

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82. i don't think we have enough information to say how much of it is due to discrimination

difference in pay for the exact same work, exact same hours, and exact same skill competence level, etc., is obviously direct discrimination. that's the 5% figure. but other discriminatory effects may exist in the remaining 18% figure as well. if women are working fewer hours, or don't have the same credentials or skills, WHY is that the case?

to the extent that such difference are due to few women wanting to be roughnecks, say, then perhaps that's not anything to be particularly worried about.

but to the extent that such differences are due to women being denied opportunities to work longer hours or to advance into the more lucrative lines of work (such as high-level management, perhaps), then yes, it is a problem.

so if it's not valid to push the 23% figure because it overstates the problem, then it's also not valid to push the 5% figure because it understates the problem.