Summary:
- The "motherhood penalty" refers to the observed phenomenon where women with children tend to earn less and have fewer career advancements compared to women without children.
- Research suggests that the motherhood penalty is real and can be attributed to factors such as employers' biases, the disproportionate burden of childcare on women, and the lack of family-friendly policies in many workplaces.
- Addressing the motherhood penalty requires a multi-faceted approach, including promoting gender equality, providing better support for working parents, and challenging societal norms that place the primary responsibility of childcare on women.