Why Is It Possible for Male CEOs to Earn More Than Female CEOs?

Working moms are often the subject of envy, unending support and criticism, and accused of “raising stupid children.” Meanwhile, successful men who have fathers who are also working are praised and congratulated, with “fathers should be supported for raising successful, capable children” being the oft-heard (if misguided) mantra. It seems some workplaces would like to be kinder when it comes to fatherhood and encourage both breadwinners in a successful family unit.

However, The Robert Half Money Network published a great article about just how far from the truth that is. “Do men from same-sex households get more competitive treatment from managers?” asked Ann Henry, co-founder of The Robert Half Companies. “No. It seems that a long-held belief has long been that there is a ‘Daddy Warbucks’ effect at play. That is, employers view married, stay-at-home fathers as being more present and less involved with their kids as they run the household.”

Henry discusses how while fathers in same-sex households still tend to be more present at home, they still do less work and receive less credit for it.

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For example, fathers typically have smaller incomes and find it easier to fit work and caring responsibilities around their home lives than stay-at-home moms. In short, Henry points out that the double-standard is carried into workplaces, with men who get paid less being held to a more rigid, male standard than women who are paid more.

This is just one of many case studies that shows just how dramatic the double-standard can be. If you want to get an idea of how far this double-standard has got, just hear this: “In one survey, 89 percent of managers said that ‘male employees’ are likely to be more aggressive and offer greater challenges to work-life balance,” noted Henry. “While bosses tend to be more supportive of working mothers, they’re also more likely to believe that fathers are only taking care of their kids.” This is despite the reality that the majority of stay-at-home dads are working because they have to.

All the ideas behind why this bias exists really apply to all industries, it seems. Henry mentions “supportive agencies, initiatives, and social norms toward stay-at-home parenting within the corporate, financial services, health, science, and life science sectors are more prevalent.”

The bottom line: most career advice aimed at working women also targets men. At the end of the day, it’s a truth for both genders.