Every woman’s profession is exclusive. But whether it involves a linear path up the corporate ladder or detours for motherhood or other opportunities, that journey normally faces one frustratingly constant obstacle: the gender pay gap.
Not only has the gender pay gap not narrowed significantly over the previous couple of years, but the pay gap has been increasing as women’s careers progress.
This inverse correlation between years of service and pay equality is certainly one of several findings in a recently released Pew Research Center report, The lasting grip of the gender pay gap. The authors of the report concluded that while “women generally start their careers closer to pay parity with men … they refuse in importance as they age and progress in working life, and this pattern persists for a very long time.”
The impact of motherhood on wage differences
A Pew report found that American women typically earned 82 cents for each dollar a man earned in 2022. That is about the same as in 2002, when women earned 80 cents on the dollar. [See Women On Business’ What’s She Worth? Infographic from 2013 for more details about the history of the U.S. gender pay gap.]
Nonetheless, the pay gap was smaller for girls at earlier stages of their careers. Since 2007, women aged 25-34 have consistently earned near 90 cents on the dollar or more in comparison with men of the same age.
But then things fall off the pay tracks.
In keeping with the report, the most dramatic increase in the gender pay gap occurs when women are between the ages of 35 and 44. In 2022, women on this age bracket earned 83% as much as men of the same age – a sharp drop from the 92 cents on the dollar earned by women aged 25 to 34. The gap widened even further amongst women aged 55-64 to 79 cents on the dollar. The authors noted that this general pattern has not modified for a minimum of 4 a long time.
Parenthood stands out as the most significant single factor behind the widening pay gap.
“The increase in the pay gap coincides with the age at which women usually tend to have children under 18 at home,” the report said.
The impact of motherhood on actual and potential earnings – and the way it differs from that of fatherhood – may be viewed in some ways. While motherhood leads many ladies to place their careers on hold, fatherhood has the opposite effect on men.
In 2022, moms aged 25 to 34 earned 85% greater than fathers of that age, but women who didn’t have children at home earned 97% as much as fathers.
Amongst people aged 35 to 44, 94% of fathers are economically energetic, in comparison with 75% of moms – a difference of 19%. But amongst those that do not have children on this age group, 84% of men and 78% of ladies are economically energetic – a difference of only 6%.
In 2022, 70% of moms aged 25 to 34 had a job or were searching for a job, in comparison with 84% of ladies of the same age who didn’t have children at home. This meant the withdrawal of 1.4 million younger moms from the labor market.
Younger moms who’re employed are inclined to have a shorter working week – a median of two hours a week – than other women their age.
Women who take a profession break after becoming moms sacrifice a minimum of a few of their potential earnings, and people moms who never gain a paid job after having children hand over their earnings altogether.
It appears that evidently the deepening of wage differences in comparison with parenthood results from the increase in fathers’ earnings – the so-called “Paternity Pay”. Fathers aged 25 to 54 not only earn greater than moms of the same age, but in addition earn greater than men who should not have children at home.
Narrowing the gap
The Pew report also discusses how other aspects similar to ethnicity and education level contribute to the gender pay gap.
While recent legislative efforts to scale back the pay gap, including the equal pay and pay transparency laws, hope to enhance the situation, the report suggests that “sustained progress in reducing the pay gap may rely on deeper changes in social and cultural norms and workplace flexibility that influence how men and girls balance work and family life. As well as, “gender stereotyping and discrimination, while difficult to quantify, also seem like amongst the ‘last mile’ obstacles to further progress.”
The unfair gender pay gap experienced by women has had a profound impact on the skilled, financial and private careers of generations of ladies. Commitment to closing the gender pay gap at every stage of their careers – no matter parental status – will enable an inclusive and long-awaited future in the workplace.
about the writer
Pamela Johnson is a member of the Halunen Law Employment Practices Group.