The theory has been touted as a possible explanation for America’s longstanding gender wage gap. But new research suggests women exhibit their competitiveness differently.

But a new study suggests that it’s likely not that simple. Researchers found that women enter competitions at the same rate as men — when they have the option to share their winnings with the losers.

The study, conducted by Mary L. Rigdon, associate director of the UArizona Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, and Alessandra Cassar, professor of economics at the University of San Francisco, is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Rigdon’s research involves studying how market structure, information and incentives impact behavior. Her work over the last 20 years has explored questions about trust, reciprocity, competition, altruism, cheating and more, with a particular focus on gender differences, especially the gender wage gap.

«If we’re finally going to close the gender pay gap, then we have to understand the sources of it — and also solutions and remedies for it,» said Rigdon, who is also a faculty affiliate in the Department of Political Economy and Moral Science in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

In 2021, women will earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, Rigdon said, meaning women work nearly three months extra to receive the same amount of pay. This statistic does not account for certain characteristics, such as an employee’s age, experience or level of education.

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Materials provided by University of Arizona. Original written by Kyle Mittan. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.