Question

13 this excerpt is about a societal issue from the 1970s and 1980s.
the 1980s began with a focused strategy among the leaders in women’s organizations and unions to raise women’s pay and to clarify the differences between the equal pay act and title vii of the civil rights act’s prohibition against sex - based wage discrimination.
—\fifty years after the equal pay act,\ national equal pay task force, june 2013
based on the excerpt and your knowledge of u.s. history, which conclusion about u.s. society during this time period persists today?
a women increased pressure to ensure that workers across industries received the same pay as their bosses.
b women were refusing to join the labor market because of the low wages they were being offered.
c women increased their participation in the labor market but were paid less for their work than men.
d women were routinely denied access to higher - paying jobs but only in female - dominated industries.

Explanation:

• Option A: The excerpt focuses on women's pay and wage discrimination, not workers' pay vs. bosses' pay. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The excerpt shows women's organizations working to raise pay, not refusing to join the labor market. Eliminate B.
• Option C: The 1970s - 1980s saw women increasing labor market participation, and the excerpt's focus on equal pay (due to wage discrimination) implies women were paid less than men, a issue that persists today (gender pay gap). This matches.
• Option D: The excerpt doesn't mention access denial only in female - dominated industries. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. Women increased their participation in the labor market but were paid less for their work than men.