The Motherhood Penalty in the Workplace

"Working Mothers

Working mothers make up a significant part of the labor force. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021 there was a working mother in about 71 percent of families with children under the age of 18.

Data also shows that similar rates (roughly half) of mothers and fathers report that working makes it difficult for them to be good parents. However, mothers are more likely than fathers to report that being a working parent also makes it harder to advance in their careers. The numerous difficulties faced by women with the intersecting identities of mother and employee is a phenomenon known as the motherhood penalty.

Competence, Commitment, and Professional Opportunities

Unlike the perception of mothers in the workplace, fatherhood is perceived to be a valued characteristic. Fatherhood has been shown to signal greater work commitment, stability, and deservingness. On the other hand, employers view mothers as unreliable due to the “distraction” of family responsibilities.

One study demonstrated this by having employers rate employees’ competence and commitment. This study found that mothers’ competency was rated 10 percent lower than non-mothers who were otherwise equal candidates. Mothers’ commitment to their jobs was similarly rated 12 percent lower. On the other hand, fathers were rated 5 percent more committed than their non-father counterparts. These disparate perceptions mothers and fathers receive in the workplace lead to different doors opening or closing.

Wages and Pay Gap

Compensation is one of the clearest ways to measure the motherhood penalty in contrast to the fatherhood bonus. In fact, the motherhood penalty might account for a significant portion of why the gender pay gap persists. The pay gap between non-mothers and mothers may be larger than the gap between men and women.

Research demonstrates a per-child wage penalty of 5 to 20 percent for employed mothers versus an approximate 6 percent wage increase for employed fathers. Men are not penalized for becoming a father; rather, they are offered higher salaries than their childless counterparts. Women, on the other hand, experience a reduction in compensation. These impacts are greatest when children are youngest (under age 5) and when parents are also faced with navigating high-cost childcare options.

What Can We Do?

• Advocate for paid parental leave
• The transition to new parenthood is difficult. If you are pregnant or recently had a baby and your mental health is suffering, locate a therapist with training in postpartum mental health and new parenting through Postpartum Support International.
• Take the steps to advocate for paid parental leave within your organization whether you are planning to have children during your tenure or not. While the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides protections for parents to take time away from their job following childbirth, it does not provide paid time away. Because there is no paid parental leave on a national level we must look to states and companies to determine policy. Paid parental leave creates a work climate that benefits everyone. It improves the physical and mental health of both the parent and infant, including reduced incidence of postpartum depression. Research has also demonstrated countries with family leave policies can reduce the motherhood penalty."

*It really astounds me that women are still facing repercussions because they want to balance a career and having children at the same time. What's more surprising is that men are "rewarded" in a sense for having children while having a career at the same time. I know things are moving in a better direction, but it's still very difficult for women to have both a career and children without any consequences. I want to share that if you are someone that is looking to have children down the line, there is no right or wrong way to live your life. You can work full-time, part-time, or be a stay-at-home mom and all of it is totally acceptable. Please don't let anyone tell you otherwise because unless they are helping raise your kids, their opinion is irrelevant. 😊 What do you think we can do to help change the way moms are viewed and treated in the workplace?*

#WorkingMoms #Workplace #MotherhoodPenalty


For the full article, please refer to Psychology Today!

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