History doesn't matter because we live in the snap shot that is now.

You also cannot generalise across genders as different people have different qualities and abilities but I'll give it a shot. Current Rankings:

1) Alpha Men. 2) Alpha Women. 3) Beta Men = Beta Women. 5) delta WOMEN 6) delta MEN 7) gamma WOMEN = gamma MEN

Any receptionist at a posh company will crack 65k a year. There are many articles and blogs on the internet regarding this topic.

That "suck and fuck" quote actually came from my dear old grandmother regarding many of the other secretaries with whom she worked, by the way. She was the plain looking one forced to do work.

By definition, most people cannot fall into the alpha group, the beta group consists of well paid middle class professionals such as lawyers, doctors and what not.

Delta group is your standard office worker types right down to tradesmen and well paid blue collar workers. Women are better off in this group as they're paid the same, yet work less dangerous more comfortable jobs. I myself am a member of this group and women are paid just the same as men.

Gamma group. Low paid workers in general. You take your pick but I'd say that it is six of one half a dozen of the other. If you're smart and hard working or a hot chick you'll be better off regardless of Gender.

The only time men are really better off than women is if they're at the very top of society which includes about none of us boring normal people.

Women can easily get access to the beta group just by being hot, they can also marry up. I'd say currently it is about even between men and women with a slight advantage towards women.

If you were to look exclusively at young people I'd say it is wildly in favour of women for a variety of reasons.