MEGAN THOMPSON:

Evelyn Murphy is the former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. She's also an economist and an expert on the wage gap. Murphy says while women are sometimes paid less than men for the exact same job – they also just earn less overall.

According to the US Census, women working full-time in the United States earn about 80 cents for every dollar that men earn. When compared to white men, African American women earn 63 cents. Hispanic women earn just 54.

Women tend to work in lower-paying industries, and hold fewer higher-paid management roles. Time off after having a baby can affect a woman's earnings. And, Evelyn Murphy says, bias can also play a role.