The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Misra Interviewed about "Motherhood Penalty" in US Workforce

Joya Misra & Carrie Saldo, Connecting Point

Professor Joya Misra of the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy and the Department of Sociology was interviewed on WGBY's public affairs program, Connecting Point, about a recent working paper she coauthored, Motherhood penalties in the U.S., 1986-2014

In the interview, Misra spoke about her research, which found that in the US, the wage gap between women with children and those without has not improved over recent decades, even as women's education levels and workforce experience has grown—and, in fact, in some cases, that gap actually widened. She also discussed possible solutions to the problem, noting that this gap has diminished or disappeared in countries that offer policies that support working parents, such as early-education programs and paid parental leave. 

Misra coauthored the paper with Eunjung Jee, a doctoral candidate in the UMass Department of Economics, and Marta Murray-Close, a researcher with the US Census Bureau.The research was supported by a grant from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, with seed funding from the UMass College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. 

About the School of Public Policy: Established in 2016, the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy is a hub for research and teaching, preparing students for leadership in public service. The program’s focuses include social change and public policy related to science and technology.

 

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