The findings of this study shed light on an ongoing issue that has far-reaching implications for women’s economic security and overall well-being. Addressing the motherhood penalty requires changes at both the individual and systemic levels. Employers should provide policies that support work-life balance, such as paid parental leave and flexible working arrangements. Additionally, promoting gender-neutral caregiving norms and challenging gender biases can help alleviate some of the financial setbacks experienced by mothers. More research is needed to fully understand the complexities underlying the motherhood penalty and develop effective strategies to eliminate it once and for all.
When U.S. couples have their first child, mothers’ earnings still drop substantially relative to fathers’, and new research demonstrates the stubborn, decades-old pattern isn’t changing despite broad increases in other aspects of gender equality.