As a verb, “pay” means to give money for something you buy or to someone you owe. As a noun, it means the money someone earns for doing a job.
“Pay” comes from Old French *paier*, meaning “to satisfy or pacify,” from Latin *pacare*, “to make peace.” Originally, paying was about settling a debt to restore peace between people.
Hidden in “pay” is the idea of making peace—money as a way to end an obligation so no one owes anyone anymore. When you pay a bill, you’re not just moving numbers; you’re closing a tiny conflict. In that sense, every payment is a peace treaty in miniature.
“Pay” is central to discussions of the gender pay gap, where women—especially women of color—have historically been paid less than men for comparable work. Language around pay has sometimes obscured systemic discrimination by attributing differences solely to “choices.”
When discussing pay, avoid assuming a default male earner or treating women’s income as secondary. Use precise terms like “pay gap” and distinguish between individual negotiation and structural inequities.
["compensation","wages","salary"]
Research documenting gender pay gaps, much of it led by women economists and advocates, has been key to policy changes and pay transparency efforts.
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