The study appears in the Journal of Applied Psychology and grew from concerns about how reproductive autonomy relates to economic standing. Eden King of Rice University and colleagues used more than 40 years of national survey data that follow nearly 6,000 women from adolescence through midlife.
Over a 30-year period, women who delayed motherhood earned substantially more than women who became mothers early in their careers. The difference remained in every statistical model, even after controlling for age, race, marital status, education and working hours. Women who had abortions or did not become pregnant showed similar wage paths and higher long-term earnings.
Researchers say much of the gap comes from disrupted career continuity: fewer chances for promotion, limited job mobility and slower accumulation of experience in years when pay usually grows fastest. The study recommends stronger reproductive planning services and family-friendly workplace policies to help women keep career momentum.
Difficult words
- reproductive autonomy — ability to make your own pregnancy decisions
- economic standing — position in society based on income
- adolescence — time of life between childhood and adulthood
- midlife — middle period of an adult's life
- substantially — by a large amount or degree
- control — to keep something constant in an analysiscontrolling
- career continuity — uninterrupted progress in a person's job history
- promotion — move to a higher job with more pay
- job mobility — ability to change jobs or employers
- accumulation — the process of gradually collecting something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Does your country or workplace offer family-friendly policies such as flexible hours or parental leave? How could these policies help women’s careers?
- What reproductive planning services would help people balance work and family? Give one or two examples and reasons.
- How can breaks or interruptions in a career change long-term pay or promotion chances in jobs you know?
