Frank,

I assume you're referring to the following article from which you copy and pasted much of your post:

http://www.forbes.com/work/compensation/2006/05/12/women-wage-gap-cx_wf_0512earningmore.html

The author of this article has succeeded in confusing you.  I don't believe anybody here has a problem with disparities of income due to differences in travel, position, responsibilities or actual time worked.  On these points, you're arguing with yourself.

However, you can find the following quote in your own article:

"What about the headlines saying that even when their jobs are the same, men get paid more than women? Isn't that especially true in corporate America? Yes."

Therein lies the problem.