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Motherhood: The Hidden Culprit Behind the Gender Pay Gap—Happy Mother’s Day!
Research reveals that the gender pay gap isn’t just a matter of gender—it’s significantly influenced by motherhood. Surprise, surprise! A recent study shows that once women become parents, their earnings take a nosedive, and this trend even impacts women who choose not to have children. How fair is that?
An article in the Daily Herald dives into the findings from a couple of new research papers authored by a team of experts, including Tara Smith from Evergreen College, Emily Chen from Stanford, and Juan Martinez from the University of Chicago. According to these studies, which are set to be published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, the pay gap doesn’t really rear its ugly head until women hit their late 20s or early 30s—after they’ve been in the workforce for a while. And what’s the primary factor behind this disparity? You guessed it: motherhood.
The data shows that women earn about 90% of what their male counterparts make at 25, but that plummets to just 55% by age 45. It turns out that women still handle the majority of parenting duties, and while it’s common for one parent to scale back their work when kids come into the picture, this assumption is a key driver of the pay gap that emerges. Talk about a vicious cycle!
Not every mother reduces her working hours post-kids, but many are still penalized in their paychecks due to outdated assumptions. And we all know what happens when you assume, right? The research suggests that real change will only occur with new policies that benefit both moms and dads, such as less emphasis on long hours in the office and improved parental leave—duh!
Employers tend to reward those who put in extra hours, often overlooking the needs of parents who may require flexible schedules or the ability to work from home. Even more frustrating is that the negative impact of motherhood on earnings is felt by women without children as well. Because, you know, equality!
On this Mother’s Day, as we honor the women who take on the monumental task of parenting—often with little acknowledgment—it’s time for society to wake up to the absurdity of this situation and take action. Want to learn more about optimizing your journey into motherhood? Check out our post on intracervical insemination for insights. And if you’re looking to boost your chances of conception, Make a Mom offers great fertility supplements to consider. For those exploring options like IVF, UCSF’s Fertility Center is an excellent resource.
In summary, while motherhood plays a significant role in the gender pay gap, it’s a systemic issue that impacts all women. This Mother’s Day, let’s strive for a future where parenting doesn’t equal pay discrimination.