A discussion about women’s paySeehttp://bloggingheads.tv/videos

Evidence that it is a good discussionA representative sample of US adults was shown this video or one of three others (Sullivan 2013)They rated the discussion quality good or excellent:74.2% of strong partisans rated it good or excellent68.3% of weak partisans rated it good or excellentWatching the video appears to have lowered the ideological consistency of strong partisans slightly—possibly evidence that they complicated their own views.

This discussion can be diagrammed as a network of two people’s of ideas and the links among their ideas

Ramesh Ponnuru’s opening argument, paraphrased: At time 2:00Ponnuru makes an opening argumentYes, women earn less than men.Discrimination may influence that, but not muchWomen’s choices are a bigger influenceWomen may make their choices because of unjust social conditionsThose conditions should be changed by, e.g,, changing how we raise girls, but not by regulating employers

Ponnuru makes an opening argumentWomen earn less than menAntidiscrimination legislationWomen’s free choicesEmployment discrimination2:00Changes in parentingUnfair social conditionsA causes BA morally implies BA does not morally imply BAKey to Ponnuru’s networkA belief

Bryce Covert accepts portions of Ponnuru’s network4:19Covert respondsYes, women earn less than men. Discrimination affects that outcome (a lot)Women’s choices are also an influence on earnings

Women earn less than menAntidiscrimination legislationWomen’s free choicesEmployment discrimination4:19Changes in parentingUnfair social conditionsCovert agreesIn part with PonnuruCovert’s beliefCovert’s linkKey to Covert’s network

Covert adds an explanation5:36Unconscious stereotypes cause employer discrimination

Women earn less than menAntidiscrimination legislationWomen’s free choicesEmployment discrimination5:36Changes in parentingUnfair social conditionsCovert adds a node and linkGender stereotypesState of the map at 6 minutes:7 nodes6 links3 nodes and 3 links are endorsed by both

Ponnuru raises doubts about Covert’s evidence, saying:8:00There is an unexplained gap in women’s earnings, but we cannot tell that it is caused by discriminationWomen’s choice of majors is a bigger factorThe map essentially remains unchanged as Ponnuru doubts the Covert’s addition and ads evidence for his earlier claims (e.g., a GAO report)

Women earn less than menAntidiscrimination legislationWomen’s free choicesEmployment discrimination8:00Changes in parentingUnfair social conditionsGender stereotypes