“The motherhood penalty” is real, and it’s at the core of why women get paid less than men. According to The Economist, women do not get paid less for the same jobs, but rather are typically placed into jobs that are not as high-paying as those predominantly occupied by men. Women are generally shut out of executive positions and dominate professions such as teaching and nursing — but their biggest hurdle is motherhood. The majority of women resort to scaling back working hours, and typically see their salaries cut by 4% if they return to work after having a child. The same rule does not hold up for men. This systemic flaw in the job market, which essentially penalizes women for their biological reproductive abilities, persists despite women earning more degrees than men, and becoming increasingly ambitious and outspoken (watch, runtime: 02:04).

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