The study from University of Bath in the UK finds that women underestimate their earnings prospects, leading to lower expectations and little inclination to push for higher wages or promotion, or seek a better paid position.
Conversely, men consistently overestimate their prospects. When reality fails to live up to their optimistic expectations they are dissatisfied and more likely than women to try to engineer a pay rise or promotion, or change jobs in the pursuit of better pay.
Despite being lower paid than men, it is well documented that women are more satisfied at work than their male counterparts.
Economists have been trying to explain the 'paradox of the contented female worker', or why women are happy at work despite pay inequality.
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The findings are based on analysis from the British Household Panel Survey - a major longitudinal study - tracking individuals' expectations of salaries from unemployment to paid employment.
"If low female expectations in terms of pay is fuelled by a pessimistic outlook, then even without discrimination and progression-related issues, women will continue to underestimate themselves and continue to inadvertently accept pay inequality," said Chris Dawson, Senior Lecturer at University of Bath.
"It has serious implications for policy that is trying to address the gender pay gap and suggests more needs to be done to actively advance women at work, without relying on them to self-select for promotion and senior opportunities," Dawson said.
"Whilst the role of unconscious bias in gender relations in the workplace has been well documented, this new research demonstrates the role of unconscious pessimism and passivity on the part of women," said Veronica Hope Hailey, Dean of the University's School of Management.
"It shows the importance of people management practices that enable and encourage women to progress and recognise their value," she said.
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