The is one of the biggest barriers to gender equality. This phenomenon, known as the “child penalty” or “child cost”, was analyzed in detail by researchers Henrik Kleven, Camille Landais and Gabriel Leite-Mariante. The study offers a global view of the inequalities generated by the arrival of children, showing that this factor becomes the main driver of inequality as countries develop economically.
Analyzing data from 134 countries that cover 95% of the world’s population, the research reveals that, before motherhood, men and women followed similar professional trajectories. However, after the birth of their first child, women face drastic and persistent drops in their employment rates. This penalty varies between continents: Latin America leads with an average drop of 38%, while Africa has the lowest rates, with 9% on average.
In Brazil, the penalty for children is 37%, reflecting a persistence throughout the country. Women who leave the market to care for their children face difficulties in returning, often due to a lack of public policies, such as accessible daycare and . Urbanization worsens this situation; In large cities, where jobs are less flexible, the impact of motherhood is even more severe.
In less developed economies, gender inequality is driven by factors such as . Social norms that assign responsibility for family care exclusively to women perpetuate this inequality. As countries industrialize and women enter formal jobs, the weight of motherhood as a factor of inequality intensifies. This pattern is observed in nations transitioning from an agrarian economy to industrial and service sectors, where demands for flexibility are more restrictive.
Marriage itself also imposes costs on women, anticipating the arrival of children. In Brazil, both marriage and motherhood have a significant impact, with marriage contributing to 10% of the total family penalty.
To reduce gender inequality in Brazil, Brazil needs to implement measures that mitigate the impacts of motherhood. This also involves establishing parental leave that encourages the active participation of parents in caring for their children and promoting flexible work policies that allow them to reconcile career and family.
Having children should not impose a greater cost on women’s professional progression. As long as the Brazilian State does not treat the issue as a shared challenge, to be faced by men and women, we will continue to neglect a huge workforce that can actively contribute to increasing productivity and income generation in the country.
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