Kristen DeQuattro is a mother of two amazing children, two cats and a fish named Swimmy. She lives in Scarborough with her family and loves her full-time job as mother, wife, home-maker, raisingmaine.com contributor, and decorating guru. She admits to having high-maintenance tendencies, which luckily are tolerated by family and friends.
entry 13 of 240 < previous | next >
The 'Motherhood Penalty'
Oct 19, 2009 10:40 AM
Categories: Behavior, Motherhood, Tips Town: Scarborough
You're looking for a job.... you've got equitable experience and resume accolades’ as the non-mother applying for the same job...
Do you think that being a mom puts you at a disadvantage?
Using that example, moms were 79% less likely to be hired.
A study was preformed by researchers who used fake resumes for two equally qualified women–one childless, one a mom. The only way hiring managers could tell the difference is that the mom said she was an officer in an elementary school PTA on her resume. Yet, the non-parent, who listed that she was a volunteer with a community group, received 100% more callbacks from employers... Mothers also were consistently ranked as "less competent and less committed" than non-moms.
As featured in the Wall Street Journal Online story "The 'Motherhood Penalty': The Pay Gap between Working Moms and Childless Women”, the pay gap between mothers and childless women is larger than the gap between women and men, according to an award-winning 2007 study called “Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty,” published in the American Journal of Sociology.
The study, conducted by three Cornell University sociologists, and recently written about at BusinessWeek.com, found that moms faced more difficulties getting hired and were offered lower pay than their childless peers. Dads, on the other hand, faced no such penalties–faring equal to or better than childless men.
With about three-quarters of moms working outside the home these days and many more moms going back to work during the economic down-turn, this seems like a devastating reality… And begs the question, should you hide your mom-status and experience on your resume?
Do you think that being a mom puts you at a disadvantage?
Using that example, moms were 79% less likely to be hired.
A study was preformed by researchers who used fake resumes for two equally qualified women–one childless, one a mom. The only way hiring managers could tell the difference is that the mom said she was an officer in an elementary school PTA on her resume. Yet, the non-parent, who listed that she was a volunteer with a community group, received 100% more callbacks from employers... Mothers also were consistently ranked as "less competent and less committed" than non-moms.
As featured in the Wall Street Journal Online story "The 'Motherhood Penalty': The Pay Gap between Working Moms and Childless Women”, the pay gap between mothers and childless women is larger than the gap between women and men, according to an award-winning 2007 study called “Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty,” published in the American Journal of Sociology.
The study, conducted by three Cornell University sociologists, and recently written about at BusinessWeek.com, found that moms faced more difficulties getting hired and were offered lower pay than their childless peers. Dads, on the other hand, faced no such penalties–faring equal to or better than childless men.
With about three-quarters of moms working outside the home these days and many more moms going back to work during the economic down-turn, this seems like a devastating reality… And begs the question, should you hide your mom-status and experience on your resume?
LUV2LOSE says,
Not surprising but totally misguided. In my experience as a manager for several different companies, the moms are always the better employees. They have been more responsible, more resourceful, less likely to cave under stress, and in every measurable way, by far more capable to take on a new duty.
Oct 19, 2009 11:55 AM
Girl Talk says,
Great perspective... a fb friend made a smart observation that this is likely the reason why so many women go into business for themselves, rather than going back to work for someone else... Since when did it become such a bad thing to value family?
Oct 19, 2009 04:28 PM
Keli_scrap says,
Well, I'm going to now. It is my plan to go back to work in Spring of next year. Because of that, my husband and I have had serious discussions about whose job it is to do what. For instance, who takes the day off for a sick kid? Can you guess? That's right -- me, even if I am paid as he is and work the same hours. Maybe it is decision-making like this that leads companies to shy away from the working mom in favor of the non-mom option. I don't condone it, just searching for rationale.
Oct 19, 2009 11:57 AM
LUV2LOSE says,
It's been my experience that moms do stay home with the sick kids but the moms lose far fewer days for their own real or imagined illnesses. I'm not saying they come to work spewing germs in all directions. I'm saying in terms of overall good health and missed days the moms enjoy better health and fewer (often none) personal sick days.
Oct 19, 2009 12:18 PM
Girl Talk says,
In the study that was conducted, which was quite detailed and lengthy, I found it infuriating to compare "loyalties" to a job vs. a family a sticking point... a woman should not be viewed as "less committed" to a job because she has additional priorities such as family...
Oct 19, 2009 04:36 PM
Antant007 says,
Well.....I know Obama is one to tell all..........I will say. it has been my experience in hiring, that women with children require more off time......When you work for a company they expect a level of work for a level of pay......What really matters as far as mom, non-mom is concerned is the level that the employee is needed on the job.....If the job requires that an employee be there with-out fail, for any number of reasons...than a non mom generally would be a better selection for the company.....they don't know you or your work ethic...so they have to go on what they know and from past experence...that has borne this out.....fair or not its reality folks......It's tough for a mom I know......if you are truly committed to the job and willing to do what needs to be done....putting a lot of personal business aside....then..............DON"T ASK DON"T TELL........If you feel the need to go beyond...then get a personal up and close interview and plead your case..and be honest...It'll show your really true desire to give 100% work ethic and loyalty to the company.......Ladies ...life just isn't fair...it's just easier to learn the way around your obstacle, and get to your final goal...."NO" is not acceptable....Get the job offer first...then tell on yourself if you feel the need.... good luck out there..it's tough...
Oct 19, 2009 01:04 PM
LUV2LOSE says,
Guess it depends on who is doing the interviewing. You see being a mother as a detriment; I see it as an asset. I'm inclined to hire mothers for all the reasons I wrote. I can ask a few question that are legal that let me get a feeling for the kind of woman I may be hiring and usually I can spot the ones who will be more productive. My experience is the moms I hire who stay home with a sick child usually get more done when they are in the office AND try to do some part of their job at home while caring for an ill child. I just can't emphasize enough that I've found mothers more likely to do more work for me both on and off premises. Too bad for the mothers who need jobs that the prevailing attitude is similar to yours. It's too bad for business in general too because a lot of very productive, valuable people are not getting the jobs.
Oct 19, 2009 02:31 PM
SBHFreelance says,
Okay, I'm not a big fan of Obama, but I don't get your allusion to him here... how does this fit into the conversation?
Oct 20, 2009 09:56 AM
MomsForJoy says,
Single mothers have it even worse. I always advise single mothers to never let a potential employer know of marital status, even if it means wearing a ring on the left finger.
Oct 19, 2009 02:25 PM
LUV2LOSE says,
Oh, I can believe it. That's really too bad since this is a segment of the population that really needs good jobs and could be a source of good, hard-working employees because of that need.
Oct 19, 2009 05:03 PM
GeriNurse says,
Guess I am not surprised by these statistics....I agree with Jackie on it being misguided....
Oct 19, 2009 09:07 PM
Mama Bird says,
Outrageous. I considered myself pretty competent pre-motherhood, now it's magnified many-fold. Too bad motherhood is so undervalued in so many sectors. What a loss to the workforce.
Oct 19, 2009 10:33 PM
Antant007 says,
I have to disagree with Jackie....If a mom has a sick child, that child needs all the attention ......job be darned....Mom's first responsibility is to her children...and work will suffer..... Working moms just can't be both....a slave to the man (work) and to the mom care giver position, with any real degree of efficiency, when dealing wih family problems..........too bad most Dad's don't do more to help out..sometimes....But look at it like..dad is generally primary income...he has to put in his time....reality, sorry...the working mom has to do it all.....not fair and truly a loss to the work force.... It's a dollar and cents issue...." Godfather" I love you but I got to kill ya....just business....Our Children First....
Oct 20, 2009 07:24 AM
LUV2LOSE says,
Spoken like a person who has never been a mom. Competent mothers (not all mothers, just the kind I hire) are absolute geniuses at doing multiple tasks (caring for children and performing work-related duties and responsibilities) at the same time. They can do both better than many men can perform just their work-related duties. It's no coincidence that the US corporate world is in such a mess - not enough mothers in important positions of power!
Oct 20, 2009 08:17 AM
INeedaMinute says,
I hav to agree with Jackie on hiring moms but I have my own POV on the subject. I have seen men and women alike hired who wonder the halls (so to speak) and waste time but make it appear as if they're busy. A mom would NEVER do that. Moms work for efficiently and are more effective for that reason because time in the office or at work for a mom = time away from their child or children. Generally moms who work are doing so because they need or want the money or they are passionate about what they are doing therefore, they are again going to dive in fully and not waste one moment. What is important is that the job is done and done well -- not if a mom puts her child first. I would hope a single dad would do the same or in a two parent working family that at times there would be shared responsiblities so any company descriminating against women who have children because they "might slack off or call in sick due to kid issues" is clueless. Just my opinion (of course)... Oooo that got my goat. I honestly think women use their time more effectively after having kids than before so it is a hot button for me. In my business, radio, it's not the case. Most of the best are women. In the legal profession, I know there is a glass ceiling and I have mom lawyer friends who have voiced their frustrations. ;)
Oct 20, 2009 07:53 AM
SBHFreelance says,
Maria Shriver just put an interesting report out that relates to this topic... You can see it at http://www.awomansnation.com/
Oct 20, 2009 09:58 AM
NaptimeNotes says,
As a day care provider when I have a child in my care who is sick it is usually the mother who comes to take the child home. I have had parents who kept track and did take turns equally. All too often I do have kids in my care that should be home but the parent has to work. Some times I let them stay, some times not.
Oct 20, 2009 12:37 PM
EventerMom says,
I think you need to always make yourself look 'active' on your resume - even if "active" is a pto position. I think more employers look would frown more so on a gap than at least showing you were actively participating.
Oct 20, 2009 04:37 PM
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