Most of these studies are nonsensical and don't take into account things like whether the person works full or part time, or looks at average lifetime earnings. Both of which completely ignore that women very often either stop working or go part time when pregnant/raising children.

Anybody who actually thinks that for the same job a woman's wage is 26% less needs their head examined. It's not true and only gets pushed in media because it riles both sides up and gets clicks/engagement.

If governments actually wanted to do anything about the average lifetime earnings difference between men and women, they should make getting childcare cheaper, because it disproportionately affects women. But they don't.

As it stands, the UK has the second most expensive childcare costs in the world, according to OECD data. It's usually not worth it for mothers to get childcare and go back to the workforce. So they don't. That's what's fueling the gender "pay" gap - mothers in particular are pressured not to go back into work because of high costs.

E: apparently people don't understand that single mothers are a thing, pregnancy is a thing, and mothers are far more likely to look after children and lower their working hours than fathers.