A survey issued last week in the form of a report card gave Wisconsin average to less-than-average marks on issues pertaining to women.

The study, "The Status of Women in the States — 2004," sponsored by the Institute for Women's Policy Research and the Women's Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, gave Wisconsin grades ranging from C+ to D on women's issues such as employment and earnings, political participation and health and well-being.

Wisconsin earned a C in employment and earnings. According to the study, Wisconsin women make an average of $28,100 per year, $2,000 less than the national average.

Men in Wisconsin make $39,500 per year, the exact average of men nationwide.

Elaine Maly, director of the Women's Fund, said while women have a way to go before they achieve pay equality, Wisconsin is making progress.

"We didn't go backwards in pay equity," Maly said. "We're definitely going in the right direction. We just need to accelerate the process."

The survey shows a definite pay inequity between men and women, but some warn that the numbers should not be overdramatized.

According to Brian Brush, professor of economics, many variables have to be considered to really discuss pay inequity.

"You have to take into account education level, years of work experience and years with the current employer," Brush said. "Then there are differences in occupation some might say are due to discrimination and others say are due to choices that men and women might make."

John McAdams, professor of political science, agrees women make certain choices that could play a factor in their salaries.

"Women are less committed still to full-time, continuous participation in the labor market than men are," McAdams said. He said women sometimes trade income for other things, like raising children.

Other reasons why women are making less than men in Wisconsin and in the nation could be due to several factors, according to Jean Sinzdak, associate director of outreach and communications for the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

"Jobs women hold tend to be undervalued, like teachers and nurses," she said. She said women are likely to earn less when they are not members of a union that will strive for higher pay.

The question that exists now is not whether or not there is a discrepancy between the earnings of men and women, but what can be done about it.

Both Maly and Sinzdak said keeping pay inequality in the spotlight is a step in the right direction.

"Women and men have to know about this," Maly said. "The first thing you can do is create awareness."

It is especially important that young women are not naïve about pay inequity.

"A lot of younger women tend to think the women's movement happened way back when," Sinzdak said. "Everyone thinks that things are OK, but there's a lot of subtle discrimination still going on."

The subtle discrimination could have consequences if Wisconsin continues to lag behind the nation in women's earnings.

Compared to the state's average of $28,100 per year, women in Illinois make $30,700 and women in Minnesota make $31,900. Possibly because of the difference in pay, Maly said, college-educated Wisconsin women are one of the most likely groups to leave the state.

"That's not what we want to happen," she said. "We want to attract and retain more talent. One of the ways we can do that is to make this a better state for women."

Katie Meister, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, said she plans to leave Wisconsin after college, but not necessarily because of a reported inequality in pay.

Meister plans to be an orthodontist, and said she wants to work in St. Louis. She is confident she will succeed in her profession.

"I don't worry very much because orthodontics is actually a good field for women," she said. "They are more skilled at the artistic part of it."

Wisconsin is not the only state having difficulties keeping future professional women like Meister in the state, according to Maly.

"There isn't gender equity anywhere in this country," Maly said. "What Wisconsin can do is look at where they're doing better and why."