There is a conflation of equal pay - the same pay for the same work and gender pay difference. The gender pay gap, where average income is lower for women, is because women tend to work in occupations that pay less, and also are more likely to work part time. Because of taking time off to have children women often struggle to reach the same level of seniority as men, which also impacts median wages.

Equal pay is already legally mandated across most of the world. I absolutely support people getting paid the same for the same work.

Gender pay differences are more difficult. I think just looking at the difference in median income is misleading and implying unequal pay for the same work is dishonest.

Women are indeed paid less overall than men - to what extent should that be redressed? Pay primary school teachers the same as engineers? The two jobs are not comparable in their demands. Treat years away from work as equivalent to management experience for senior roles? I would be very unimpressed with my company's senior management if a new VP was straight off 5 years maternity leave.

The gender pay gap is basically zero up to age 39 in the UK. But you wouldn't believe that from reading the news. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2018