Perhaps most discouraging is the fact that in several industries, the wage gap actually increased between 1995 and 2000. The findings of the recently unveiled congressional study of 10 industries show that female managers earned less than male managers in all the industries, and in seven of the fields, the earnings gap actually grew.

For example, in the communications industry, female managers made 86 cents for every dollar earned by a man in 1995, but five years later a woman made only 73 cents for every man-earned dollar in the same field.

The report provides no explanation for why earnings have dropped for women managers, but it did note that the pay gap was widest among parents, and that women find it harder to balance children and a career. Pay drops occurred in fields such as entertainment and recreation services; finances, insurance and real estate; business and repair services; retail trades; and other professional services.

On the upside, women's earnings, compared to men, increased in public administration, hospitals and medical services and educational services.