The news hit hard—the gender wage gap widened for the first time in 20 years. In 2023, women working full-time earned just 82.7 cents for every dollar their male counterparts made. This is down from 84 cents the previous year, and while it might seem like a small dip, the implications are enormous. But this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about real people. And if you’re a woman in the workforce, whether or not you plan on having children, you should care about this. Because when 86% of women in the U.S. become mothers at some point in their lives, we’re all in this together. If 86% of us are penalized financially because of outdated structures, we all fail.
At Le Village, we’re more than just a coworking space with childcare—we’re part of the fight for gender equity in the workplace. And the latest data proves that working mothers are at the heart of the wage gap. We call it the motherhood penalty, and it’s a reality that can’t be ignored. But before we dive into the numbers, let’s be clear: even if you’re a woman who doesn’t want children, the way mothers are treated in the workplace affects all of us. Because when one group of women is systematically underpaid, it drags down the wages and expectations for every woman.
The Motherhood Penalty: Why It’s Everyone’s Problem
In the workforce, mothers earn less than fathers in every single state. Nationally, mothers made just 62.5 cents on the dollar compared to fathers in 2022. Let that sink in: 62.5 cents. Even when working full-time, year-round, mothers only earned 71.4 cents per dollar earned by fathers.
So why is this happening? It’s because of the complex, intersectional challenges mothers face in the workforce. From working in low-wage, undervalued jobs to a lack of affordable childcare and paid leave, these issues compound to set women back—way back. When women have children, they face not only the physical and emotional challenges of parenthood but also financial penalties that can last a lifetime.
The motherhood penalty isn’t just some abstract term—it’s responsible for nearly 80% of the overall gender pay gap. That’s right, 80%. Each child under five reduces the earnings of a typical mother by 15%. Women with children are less likely to be hired, less likely to be promoted, and more likely to be pushed into part-time work where benefits and protections are scarce. Compare that to fathers, who often see their careers boosted after having kids—this discrepancy is what we call the fatherhood bonus, and it further entrenches inequality.
Why This Matters to All Women
Even if you don’t have children, the motherhood penalty creates a ripple effect that impacts every woman in the workforce. When mothers are paid less, when they are passed over for promotions, and when they’re pushed out of the workforce entirely, it sets a precedent that devalues all women’s work. And that’s why it’s so crucial for every woman—whether she’s a mother or not—to stand up for working moms.
At Le Village, we see firsthand how the lack of affordable childcare and flexible work policies hold mothers back. We’ve heard the stories of talented, capable women who’ve had to cut back on work or leave their jobs because the cost of childcare outweighed their paycheck. We’ve seen how employers, often unwittingly, make it nearly impossible for mothers to stay in the workforce. And it doesn’t stop there. When mothers drop out of the workforce, the financial impact is devastating—both for the families who rely on that income and for the economy at large.
If you're ready to support innovative solutions that help working parents thrive, consider contributing to our crowdfunding campaign, where we’re working to fuel the future of modern families.
A System Rigged Against Mothers—and Why It Hurts Us All
Why is this happening? A big part of the problem is that mothers are more likely to work in undervalued sectors, like care work or service jobs—industries notorious for low pay, unpredictable hours, and minimal benefits. This pushes working mothers into positions where upward mobility is limited, and affordable childcare is out of reach. And because women are still responsible for the majority of caregiving and household duties, they’re more likely to seek part-time work, which often lacks access to the very benefits they need to support their families—like paid maternity leave, flexible hours, and healthcare.
So, what happens when mothers are forced to leave the workforce? They face career setbacks that may never be fully recovered. The gap between mothers and fathers grows wider with every year out of work, and for many, re-entering the workforce is a daunting task that comes with significant wage penalties.
What We Can Do: It’s Time to Invest in Working Mothers
The truth is, the gender wage gap won’t close until we address the motherhood penalty head-on. That means advocating for real policy changes, such as universal paid family leave, affordable childcare, and protections that allow women to thrive in the workplace without being penalized for becoming parents. It also means creating work environments that value flexibility and support—for both mothers and fathers.
At Le Village, we believe that coworking spaces like ours are part of the solution. By providing on-site childcare, we give working parents the opportunity to focus on their careers while knowing their children are in safe hands, just steps away. But this is just the beginning. Real change requires societal shifts. We need affordable, high-quality childcare accessible to every family, paid parental leave that doesn’t force women to choose between their careers and their families, and workplace cultures that don’t penalize mothers for doing one of the hardest jobs in the world—raising the next generation.
When One Succeeds, We All Succeed
Here’s the bottom line: when we support working mothers, we support everyone. Because when 86% of women are mothers, if we’re not making space for them in the workforce, we’re not making space for the majority of women. If 86% of us are penalized for doing what the vast majority of us will do at some point in our lives, we all suffer.
So, whether you’re a mother or not, this fight matters. When mothers succeed, we all succeed. And the success of working mothers isn’t just good for them—it’s good for their families, their communities, and the economy as a whole. It’s time we recognize that.
At Le Village, we’re proud to be part of this movement. We’re here to provide the support, flexibility, and care that working parents need, and we’re committed to helping close the wage gap—starting with the motherhood penalty. Because we believe that when we lift each other up, we all rise together.
If you believe in this mission and want to support working families, please consider contributing to our crowdfunding campaign. Together, we can build a better future for all working parents.
–Daniella
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