Most of these studies are nonsensical and don’t take into account things like whether the person works full or part time, or looks at average lifetime earnings. Both of which completely ignore that women very often either stop working or go part time when pregnant/raising children.

Anybody who actually thinks that for the same job a woman’s wage is 26% less needs their head examined. It’s not true and only gets pushed in media because it riles both sides up and gets clicks/engagement.

If governments actually wanted to do anything about the average lifetime earnings difference between men and women, they should make getting childcare cheaper, because it disproportionately affects women. But they don’t.