It’s true. Women in America make less money than men throughout their lifetime; they constitute a mere 17 percent of the national legislature; and according to a new report from the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co., only a handful of women has ascended to the top rung of the corporate ladder. To most Americans, these facts are neither surprising nor concerning. But to a certain powerful segment of our society, they’re a downright travesty.

It’s true. Women in America make less money than men throughout their lifetime; they constitute a mere 17 percent of the national legislature; and according to a new report from the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co., only a handful of women has ascended to the top rung of the corporate ladder. To most Americans, these facts are neither surprising nor concerning. But to a certain powerful segment of our society, they’re a downright travesty.