Women's figures : an illustrated guide to the economic progress of women in America / Diana Furchtgott-Roth.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-185) and index.

Facts and myths about women at work and in politics -- Reaching the top : women's educational attainment -- The marriage penalty, social security disincentives, and other ways government programs increase poverty among women -- Way to go, female entrepreneurs! -- The success of minority women -- Mirror, mirror, on the wall, which country is the fairest of them all? -- Do feminist organizations serve women today? -- Conclusions.

The myth that women make 78 cents on a man's dollar is a standard refrain in popular media and serves as rationale for affirmative action for women. Unstated is that for women and men with the same job and work experience, the wage gap practically disappears. In Women's Figures, Manhattan Senior Fellow Diana Furchtgott-Roth shatters the myth of the wage gap. Women are continuing to gain ground relative to men, and in some cases, they have even reversed the gender gap. Rather than helping women, preferential policies undermine America's idea of meritocracy, and call into question the value of women's hard-earned achievements.