Heck, I had that with the woman I worked with! I say let the company determine the “worth” of an employee and their contribution to the success of the company. Where I work now there is no incentive as all are given a customary cost of living raise...which is ridiculous. Let people earn their raises...now that’s an incentive to perform!
This “wage discrepancy” thing is sheer crap based on misleading information. Women notoriously drop out of the working world to be mommies thus hurting their “career path” and lowering their potential for income earning. In addition, they don’t take on hazardous and dangerous jobs generally speaking. This pretty much sums up the “difference” in pay. It’s like saying you’re more likely to be shot and killed running through the inner city than walking through the country; therefore you should walk at all times. All based on false premise.
Cost of living isn't really a raise, it's an adjustment so you can buy the same amount of food, fuel, clothing and so on, that you bought last year for the same number of hours of work. If they didn't give it to you, it would be a pay CUT. Now anything in excess of inflation should be earned as you note, I agree.