I&#x27;m sympathetic to the notion that discrimination can include subtler factors of pushing women into lower pay positions.<p>However, the problem with the 77 cent figure is that it&#x27;s frequently stated like this: &quot;women get paid only 77% of what men do for the same jobs.&quot; Which is entirely false. Yet, if you asked most people about the 77 cents figure they&#x27;d think it actually meant women got paid much less to do the same work.<p>If a conversation begins with a lie, it&#x27;s going to be tough to address a systematic issue and to work together. Distorting the facts is manipulative and prevents rational discourse.