The Facts
We normally talk about the gender wage gap and how it disproportionately affects women of color but there is one other huge factor that contributes to women making less than men. When someone chooses to become a mother they instantly see a drop in income and income potential that will follow them throughout their career.
Full time working moms make 74 cents for every dollar a dad makes. According to the American Association of University Women, “Research has shown that hiring managers are less likely to hire mothers compared women who don’t have kids, and when employers do make an offer to a mother, they offer her a lower salary than they do other women. Men, by contrast, do not suffer a penalty when they become dads. In fact, there’s some evidence of a “fatherhood bonus” in which their earnings actually increase.”
We simply can’t afford this gap. Moms are breadwinners primary or sole breadwinners in 41% of families.
Caregiving Policies
Policies that ease the burden on parents and caregivers can help eliminate this pay gap. Paid leave, affordable childcare, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act help eliminate the stigma and barriers that moms face and prevent the wage gap.
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A stunning chart shows the true cause of the gender wage gap
Motherhood Wage Gap for Black Mothers
What people miss about the gender wage gap
Nearly One in Five Working Mothers of Very Young Children Work in Low-Wage Jobs
