Mothers of daughters face larger earnings penalties
Mothers of daughters face larger earnings and employment penalties compared to mothers of sons, according to a new study.
Why it matters
- Highlights significant disparity in post-birth earnings and employment between mothers of daughters and sons.
- Suggests that gender norms may be perpetuated through different home environments.
By the numbers
- Mothers of daughters experience a 26% earnings penalty vs. 3% for mothers of sons.
- Employment penalty is 20% for mothers of daughters vs. 6% for mothers of sons.
The big picture
- Girls and boys in the UK may grow up in different home environments, contributing to gender norm perpetuation.
What they're saying
- Commenters speculate on reasons, from biological factors to societal expectations.
- Some express surprise and concern over the findings.
Caveats
- Study focuses only on the first child and is based on UK data.
- Preprint; not yet peer-reviewed.
What’s next
- Research could explore if findings apply to other countries and subsequent children.
- Further investigation into the reasons behind these differences is needed.