The motherhood pay gap

Childbirth results in large earnings losses that are not equally distributed within heterosexual couples.

Inequalities between men and women persist in many areas, with women still earning less than men on average. An even more striking difference is the “motherhood pay gap” that happens when women have children. Also known as the “family gap” or child penalties, women’s earnings plummet after the birth of a child, while men’s barely budge.