Dr. Audrey Nelson Talks About What Women Can Do To Make More Money & Earn Respect

Today there are more women working than ever before, but they're still making less than men and have positions of less responsibility. Statistics show that women make up only 2.5 percent of CEO positions in Fortune 500 Companies. And on average, a woman will make 78 cents to the dollar that a man will make.

Gender communication expert Dr. Audrey Nelson says the problem for women starts at birth.

"From the crib to the cubicle, men and women learn different skill sets that enable gender pay inequity," she said. "Women are taught to be peace makers and negotiators. They are not taught to rock the boat."

In her book "Code Switching: How to Talk So Men Will Listen," Dr. Nelson says there are ways for women to make more money and earn more respect at work.

She says you don't have to act like a man. Instead, she advocates a "gender flexing approach" that allows women to reach across the aisle of communication.

• Incorporate the best male and female traits into the way you communicate. You can be strong and soft, aggressive and straightforward, compassionate and unafraid of emotions.
• Promote yourself. Your mother is not going to call the boss to tell him about the big deal you just negotiated.
• Take a stand; don't worry about approval. Sometimes you have to fight.
• You get paid what you negotiate. Ask. All they can do is say no.