When I hear the gender pay gap denounced as a myth, the critic typically claims that the gap is imagined by those who like to play victims. If the critic is rather well-read, he or she might argue that the pay gap is a fact, but it is driven by various factors based on individual choice. They claim that some women may earn less than their male counterparts because they make decisions that directly lead to lower pay, regardless of gender. The problem with denouncing the gender pay gap as a myth or as a consequence of personal preference is the lack of consideration for the cultural factors driving the gap. Every policy and quantifiable pattern can be explained by cultural influences; for every argument that the wage gap is imaginary or inexorable, there is a culturally-based explanation for why it is not. 

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