If the second hypothesis mentioned by the author (line 59 - 65) is correct, a general lessening of the discrimination against women should lead to

Directions: The question
is based on the following reading passage. Choose
the best answer to the question on the basis of what
is stated or implied in the passage.

           The existence of both racial and sexual
           discrimination in employment is well
            documented, are policy makers and
            responsible employers are particularly
(5)        sensitive to the plight of the black female
            employee on the theory that she is doubly
            the victim of discrimination. That there exist
            difference in income between whites and
            blacks is clear, but it is not so clear that
(10)      these difference are solely the result of
            racial discrimination in employment. The
            two groups differ in productivity, so basis
            economics dictates that their incomes will
            differ.
(15)      To obtain a true measure of the effect of
            racial discrimination in employment it is
            necessary to adjust the gross black/white
            income ratio for these productivity factors.
            White women in urban areas have a higher
(20)      educational level than black women and can
            be expected to receive larger incomes.
            More-over, state distribution of residence
            is important because blacks are over-
            represented in the South where wage rates
(25)      are typically lower than elsewhere and where
            racial differentials in income are greater. Also,
            blacks are over-represented in large cities;
            incomes of blacks would be greater if blacks
            were distributed among cities of different sizes
(30)      in the same manner as whites.
            After standardization for these productivity
            factors, the income of black urban women is
            estimated to be between 108 and 125 percent
            of the income of white women. This indicates
(35)      that productivity factors more than account for
            the actual white/black income differential for
            women. Despite their greater education, white
            women's actual median income is only 2 to 5
            percent higher than that of black women in the
(40)      North. Unlike the situation of men, the evidence
            indicates that the money income of black urban
            women was as great as, or greater than, that of
            whites of similar productivity in the North, and
            probably in the United States as a whole. For
(45)       men, however, the adjusted black/white
            income ratio is approximately 80 percent.
            At least two possible hypotheses may
            explain why the adjustment for productivity
            more than accounts for the observed
(50)       income differential for women, whereas the
            income differential persists for men. First,
            there may be more discrimination against
            black men than against black women. The
            different occupational structures for men
(55)      and women give some indication why this
            could be the case, and institutionalized
            considerations – for example, the effect
            of unionization in cutting competition – may
            also contribute. Second, the data are
(60)      consistent with the hypothesis that the
            intensity of discrimination against women
            differs little between whites and black.
            Therefore, racial discrimination adds little
            to the effects of existing sex
(65)      discrimination. These findings suggest
            that a black woman does not necessarily
            suffer relatively more discrimination in the
            labor market than does a white woman.
            Rather, for women, the effects of sexual
(70)      discrimination are so pervasive that the
            effects of racial discrimination are negligible.
            Of course, this is not to say that the more
            generalized racial discrimination of which
            black women, like black men, are victims
(75)      does not disadvantage black women in their
            search for work. After all, one important
            productivity factor is level of education, and
            the difference between white and black
            women on this scale is largely the result of
(80)      racial discrimination.