Mum Mum’s recently reported that women are having babies later in life and that this trend does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. While many reasons contribute, albeit speculative, to women postponing motherhood one main reason is that women are focusing on careers first. We can safely say women now have more opportunities than our mothers and grandmothers but how far have we really progressed?
Despite more executive level women in the workforce, women still battle with unequal pay. A new report found that women with children make about 22% less than their male colleagues and that for each year out of the work place; mothers can anticipate an annual 5% reduction in wages.
Entitled “Not Having It All: How Motherhood Reduces Women’s Pay and Employment Practices″, the study explores the “devastating″ impact of motherhood on salary. The study is provided by the Fawcett Society, a campaign group centered on closing the inequality gap between men and women.
According to the researchers, childbirth marks the onset of the “great divide″ in earnings; a vast disparity between men’s and women’s salaries once women give birth. Prior to becoming parents, women and men are equally likely to be employed. About 57% of women with children under 5, however, are in paid employment compared to nine tenths of men. In addition, the study explains that pregnancy makes women more vulnerable as there has been a significant increase in women seeking assistance because they feel they have been subjected to pregnancy related discrimination.
Mothers are more likely than fathers to make adjustments to their work schedule and often return to work part time. Yet even for mothers with 2 children who are working full-time, the pay disparity between men in a similar situation is 21.6%. So what are women to do? The
Fawcett Society explains that 4 priorities have been determined as a result of the study:
1. Enforce and extend the law to protect expecting women and mums on maternity leave
2. Provide mothers with the support needed to return to work at their previous skill level
3. Create more part time work in higher paid occupations
4. Tackle the low pay that exists in sectors primarily employing women
The evidence found in this report reveals mothers today face impossible choices. Trying to find jobs that not only fulfill the careers goals that women have spent years to achieve, but also support the family life mothers desire. The researchers hope the findings will be a catalyst for change in government policies to help support working mothers.
Tags: motherhood
