Female Executives and the Motherhood Penalty

2023/05/08 by Seth Murray, Danielle H. Sandler, Matthew Staiger · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics #Work-Family Balance Challenges #Gender Diversity and Inequality

paper · doi:10.3368/jhr.0521-11673r1

openalex publication_date 2023/05/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

<h3>Abstract</h3> We use U.S. linked survey and administrative data to investigate whether the sex composition of a firm’s executives affect the earnings of new mothers. Our empirical strategy compares the earnings trajectories of new mothers to observably similar coworkers who did not give birth around that time. On average, mothers earn almost 2,000 less per quarter two years after birth but the magnitude of these losses is unrelated to the female share of executives at the mothers’ employer. Our results suggest that increasing the representation of women in firms’ leadership positions will not reduce the motherhood penalty.

Discussions

• New moms in the US lose about $2,000 in earnings two years after giving birth. Seth Murray, Danielle H. Sandler & Matthew Staiger find that this “motherhood penalty” is unchanged no matter how many f [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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