Syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman recently lamented Congress’ failure to pass legislation that would’ve helped make it easier for women to file gender discrimination lawsuits if they learn they’re paid at unequal rates as compared to their male colleagues with similar qualifications.

“If you’ve been listening lately, the reasons for the tenacious wage gap between men and women in the 21st century have been dropped on the lap of working women,” Goodman wrote. “Women aren’t paid equally because they have this nasty habit of giving birth. Or they ‘opt out.’ Or they choose jobs that let them get home before they kids’ bedtimes. Or they don’t know how to negotiate. The fault is not in our workplaces but in ourselves.” (May 2008)