I don’t think the Republicans understand something very basic that they are usually very adept at exploiting. Whether or not people have an objective verifiable reason for feeling aggrieved, they feel like they are getting screwed and telling them that they are not getting screwed is never an effective political message. Woman don’t get paid as much as men, and you are not going to convince women that this is some kind of illusion. Yes, I know that there are some innocent reasons that contribute to the pay disparity, but it’s still a political loser to try to convince working women that they’re getting a fair shake.
To their credit, the Democrats are taking a holistic approach to the issue. They know that simple discrimination is only a small part of the problem, so they are attempting to raise the minimum wage, get more access to day care (including universal pre-K), promote STEM education for women & girls, get better family leave policies, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. The GOP opposes every single one of these efforts.
And, while they’re opposing these efforts they are attempting to distort the Democrats’ position to make it seem like the Democrats think that the entirety of the problem with disparity in pay is due to simple gender discrimination. The Democrats have not made that argument, but it’s a blessing that the Republicans seem to think that women will be receptive to it. This is an example of being wrong even if you’re right. Simply by making the argument that women aren’t discriminated against in the workplace, you piss off most women. This is partly because the Republicans are wrong and partly because everyone is convinced they’re getting a raw deal regardless of whether or not it is true in their particular case.
So, by goading the Republicans into dismissing women’s concerns about the fairness of their job reviews, annual bonuses and raises, the Democrats are winning, and winning big, in this debate.
