Understanding Motherhood Penalty And the Impact It Has On Working Moms

Motherhood Penalty, defined simply, is the consequence women at the workplace suffer after becoming mothers. This means a widening pay gap and hiring disadvantage when compared to fathers or childless women.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Below are some of the key findings of the report.

• Nearly half of respondents reported dissatisfaction with their organisations’ support during maternity leave, highlighting a systemic failure to acknowledge and address the needs of mothers.

• The absence of specific support or accommodations for 70% of women underscores a significant gap in appropriate workplace policies, exacerbating the challenges of working mothers.

• A third of mothers contemplated leaving their jobs due to inadequate support, revealing a critical intersection between workplace culture and support for mothers.

According to PWC’s Women In Work 2024 report, motherhood penalty is the most significant driver of the gender pay gap. “Mothers experience a 60% drop in earnings compared to fathers in the decade following the birth of a first child, and women have lower pension balances at the end of their working lives.”

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

The story is no different in India with women first falling out of their jobs because they had a baby and then being unable to find an inclusive job later on. Sankari Sudhar, an MIT graduate in computer science engineering, struggled to get a job after she gave birth to a boy in 2021. Like her, there were many other brilliant women who were forced to stay home after giving birth because of the lack of opportunities. This led her to start “Overqualified Housewives” - a platform that was tailor made for women paying motherhood penalty.

However, not all women get the opportunity to restart their careers owing to various reasons. Such women are often left being in the career race which in turn widens the pay gap. The only way for this to change is when workplaces become more inclusive and more understanding of the struggles of a working mother.

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

The Maturn and The Brand is Female report also provides strategies on how organisations can achieve better gender equity.

1. Fostering career development and inclusive work environments for mothers 

2. Improving mothers’ mental health

3. Prioritising flexibility for mothers

4. Affordable childcare & onsite daycare facilities

5. Supplement paid maternity leave

Main photo by Laura Fuhrman on Unsplash