It is a shame that in this day and age – and in America, no less – a woman can only count on earning 77 cents for every dollar earned by one of her male counterparts. At least, that’s the number President Obama keeps giving, and surely that means it’s true.

Women are often the breadwinners of their families and caregivers of their children, and they are forced to work for less money simply because they were born with uteri. All can agree that this situation is deplorable and unacceptable. Businesses shouldn’t be allowed to hire more women just because they can pay them less than men. Men shouldn’t be turned down for jobs simply because they would have to be paid more than a comparably skilled woman.