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You give no details such as relative seniority or past performance in your article. What about the cumulative effect of seniority and merit raises? I myself am an hourly factory production worker. I make more than any of my coworkers doing the same job, including both men and women. Why? Because I enjoy the cumulative effect of many more years of cost of living and merit raises. Under our pay-for-performance system I have received near the top of the range for exceeding goals regarding attendance, quality, safety, and productivity over the years. Some others, including people with as many years of service, have received near the bottom of the range due to frequent absence, frequent accidents, low productivity, and frequent quality issues. Differentials in raises are not only cumulative, but also compounded over time. Other people, both men and women, would have the same pay as me if they had the same work record as me. Should a young employee have the same pay as me just because she is a woman, discarding factors of merit and seniority? I don't think so.

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It's not about young or older, this article is about unfair pay in a new paradigm. The same sexism is showing up on the campaign trail in another form, i.e. a double-standard for a professional woman competing against a black or white man.

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Susan, I am so tired of this election. This one did this, this one did not. Childish to the max. Please write on the facts on how they are going to keep me safe, economics and medical. I do not like what Obama and Hillary offer in the way of home care. Who will pay for this? Write about this not the childish nit picking that you (and I am surprised) showing. Write about their character and why should I vote for them. Facts only please. Is this all you have? I am an independent and if anyone wants my vote this is not the way. I turn off the TV or mute it when I see Hillary or Obama because it all is embarrassing for me as an American to see our politicans act this way. I am not a big fan of McCain and I live in AZ. For the first time in my 53 yrs. I am afraid for America!!!!. God Bless America!!! We need it.

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Dear Ms. Estrich, I have to agree with the courts on this one. Lilly must have some responsibility for her failure to keep herself informed of the market value of her services. People who consider themselves as the victims of their employers experience a self-fulfilling prophesy. It was her responsibility to negotiate for higher pay. Along with that responsibility should be the willingness to go out and look for another job if she did not feel her pay was sufficient. I'm really tired of women and minorities whining because they don't receive enough respect or pay. I have been a computer programmer for the past 15 years which is a very male dominated field. My pay has always been commensurate with my skills and market value. But I actively negotiate for the best rate possible. I have never experienced discrimmination from white men. Some immigrant men have displayed discrimminating attitudes, but they are excused because their culture is just as good as ours. Now, it never affected my pay, and because I always produced results, management supported me over peers who tried to undermine my position and credibility because I am a woman. These are businessmen, they want results, they don't care about race or sex. Businesses want the best possible results with the lowest possible expense. An employee's first responsibility when negotiating with employers, is to be truly competent or excellent; the second responsibility is to stay abreast of one's market value and to actively negotiate for commensurate pay. When I coach people who are looking for new jobs, I encourage them to talk to many prospective employers. When negotiating salary at each successive interview I instruct them to ask for more money until the interviewer gasps. Then back down to the preceding amount that did not shock the interviewer. I have coached 4 people into doubling their income. One woman and three men. I can assure you that women and minorities are not the only people who are underpaid, they are just the only ones who blame someone else for their own failures in managing their careers.