Before World War I, women earned less than men for the same job due to discriminatory practices and societal norms that devalued women's labor. During World War I, as more men joined the military and women took on roles traditionally held by men in factories and other industries, women's wages increased slightly to attract more women workers. However, after the war ended and men returned to the workforce, women's wages decreased once again as they were pushed out of higher-paying jobs and relegated back to lower-paying and lower-status positions. Overall, both before and after World War I, women consistently earned less than men for the same job.
