We’ve long believed that women earn less than men because women fail to negotiate.

Not so fast, new research says. Perhaps outright discrimination is at play, after all.

A study by the University of Wisconsin revealed women are 25% less likely than men to get a hike in pay when they asked for it. “We were expecting to find evidence for this old theory that women are less pushy than men,” said co-author Andrew Oswald. “But the women and the men were equal” which can only mean one thing: “There is discrimination against women.”

One bright spot: Researchers found that women under the age of 40 managed to negotiate as well as men for higher pay, which bodes well for reducing the gender pay gap.

What has worked–and what hasn’t–in your money chats at work?  Share your experiences and ask advice here.