I'm not going to spend too much time on this because I'm getting the sense that your request for an explanation was disingenuous. But:
actually misleading
There's a difference between "imperfect metaphor" and "misleading".
higher proportion of hard-mode players choosing Paladin over Necromancer
You make it sound as if each woman has individually and arbitrarily chosen to earn less. That's not the way it works, and the fact that women are paid less within the same profession too is only one of the reasons.
I don't know what you mean by "disingenuous" - in what regard do you think I'm attempting to mislead? I asked about the meme because I truly didn't understand what it meant, in spite of hearing it used many times here.
Now that I understand it I have formed an opinion on it (namely that it is misleading). Is there something wrong with this?
You make it sound as if each woman has individually and arbitrarily chosen to earn less.
Yes. For example, women choose web design over programming and HR over trading. Women choose to leave the workforce more than men. Analogously, women choose Paladin over Necromancer.
If you have evidence that women are pervasively paid less within the same profession for the same skill and experience levels, feel free to cite it. Better yet, arb it. But your $0.77/1.00 is a national figure and controls for nothing.
(The section on "Explaining the gender pay gap" answers your later request for evidence quite thoroughly.)
For example, women choose web design over programming and HR over trading. Women choose to leave the workforce more than men.
The fact that women end up in these professions is bad evidence that they prefer them, much less that they naturally prefer them independent of social expectations. A few factors to consider off the top of my head:
* Hiring bias
* Differential tracking by family, teachers, and mentors
* Hostile working environments or a fear of such
* Differences in which related basic skills people are taught (self-confidence, 'nurturing' vs 'making')
actually misleading
There's a difference between "imperfect metaphor" and "misleading".
higher proportion of hard-mode players choosing Paladin over Necromancer
You make it sound as if each woman has individually and arbitrarily chosen to earn less. That's not the way it works, and the fact that women are paid less within the same profession too is only one of the reasons.
Related: http://familyinequality.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/alabama-mat...
the root cause is unkind treatment, depression and violent crime
That's not what I said at all.