The strongest version of this narrative is that the EU's pay transparency directive is a necessary and overdue correction to systemic gender pay gaps, empowering workers with information and legal recourse while forcing employers to justify disparities. The directive’s mechanisms—such as mandatory salary disclosures, gender-neutral job postings, and audits for gaps exceeding 5%—are designed to dismantle opaque pay structures that perpetuate inequality. By shifting the burden of proof to employer...