Statistically there is still a gap between the earnings of men and women in this country and this gap is reflected in the tables on which economists rely to estimate and project wage loss. However, the gap is closing and occupations that were previously seen as appropriate for men only are now open to women. Because women theoretically have equal access to all jobs in the economy and because discrimination on the basis of gender is illegal, most economic damage experts rely on general adult norms in their evaluations. Using the variable of gender may, under some circumstances, provide more accurate predictions of wage loss, but ordinarily, general adult norms should be used.