Abstract
Prior research has indicated that women with children earn less than their childless counterparts. In addition, recent research
has found that the motherhood wage penalty may be most severe for low-income earners. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal
Survey of Youth (1979), we test two hypotheses. First, are there occupational differences in the motherhood wage penalty?
Second, are there occupational differences in the relative wage penalty experienced by low and high wage mothers? Our results
indicated that mothers in sales occupations are penalized at a significantly higher rate than mothers in non-sales occupations,
while mothers in blue-collar occupations were penalized the least. Furthermore, the wage cost of motherhood was greatest amongst
the highest earners in sales occupations.
has found that the motherhood wage penalty may be most severe for low-income earners. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal
Survey of Youth (1979), we test two hypotheses. First, are there occupational differences in the motherhood wage penalty?
Second, are there occupational differences in the relative wage penalty experienced by low and high wage mothers? Our results
indicated that mothers in sales occupations are penalized at a significantly higher rate than mothers in non-sales occupations,
while mothers in blue-collar occupations were penalized the least. Furthermore, the wage cost of motherhood was greatest amongst
the highest earners in sales occupations.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-012-9323-2
- Authors
- Christian Nsiah, College of Business and Technology, Black Hills State University, 1200 University, Spearfish, SD 57799, USA
- Ron DeBeaumont, College of Business and Technology, Black Hills State University, 1200 University, Spearfish, SD 57799, USA
- Annette Ryerson, Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics, Carroll College, 1601 North Benton Avenue, Helena, MT 59625, USA
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476