<human>:  Could you explain to me the gender wage gap and why it is so persistent?
<bot>: The gender wage gap refers to the gap between wages earned by women and men in the same profession and job role. It is a complex issue that is explainable by many factors, such as differences in education, occupation, occupation segregation by gender, and hours worked. The gap is attributed to deep-seated cultural and social biases about gender roles, and the persistence of such biases means that the gender wage gap is unlikely to close without structural changes. Such structural changes could include pay transparency, equal pay legislation and enforcement, and other workplace practices that promote equal opportunities for all genders.