Alex Castellanos Denies Women Make Less Than Men

GOP Strategist Denies Women Make Less Than Men

A GOP strategist on Sunday denied that women make less money in the workplace than their male counterparts.

Responding to Rachel Maddow's comment that "women in this country still make 77 cents on the dollar for what men make," Alex Castellanos said on 'Meet The Press'. "Not exactly ... actually, if you start looking at the numbers Rachel, there are lots of reasons for that."

"Don't tell me the reasons, do women make less than men for doing the same work?" Maddow shot back.

"Actually, because for example, men work an average of 44 hours a week, women work 41 hours a week," he said. "Men go into professions like engineering, science and math that earn more. Women want more flexibility."

The GOP adviser and former Romney consultant added that if that were the case, "every greedy businessman in America would hire only women, save 25% and be hugely profitable."

Despite Castellanos' claims, new research shows that women make considerably less than men in the workplace. A study published by American Association of University Women, based on U.S. census data, found that on average--as Maddow said--women make 23 cents less than men.

In some industries, the gap is even worse. A recent Bloomberg study found that women on Wall Street make between 55 and 62 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make.

Republicans have come under fire of late for their criticism and failure to show support for the Lilly Ledbetter Act, a law signed by President Obama that helps women receive equal pay. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was heavily criticized for quietly repealing his state's equal pay law.

Watch Maddow and Castellanos spar over the gender wage gap in the video above, courtesy of MSNBC.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot