A new study finds that lower fertility in the United States helped narrow the gender pay gap. Researchers estimate that eight percent of the gap's narrowing came from women having fewer children. The study used a large national dataset on workers' family sizes and earnings over time and was published in Social Forces with partial support from the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers report that average family size fell from about 2.4 children in the mid-1980s to about 1.8 by 2000. In the same period, women's hourly pay rose from roughly 65% of men's pay to about 85%.
The study says motherhood often leads to wage losses because many mothers take time out of work or move to part-time. The authors suggest public investment in affordable child care and policies that help fathers share caregiving.
Difficult words
- fertility — number of children born to women
- gender pay gap — difference in pay between women and men
- estimate — give a number or value that is not exact
- dataset — collection of information used for study
- pay — money a worker receives for their work
- part-time — work with fewer hours than full-time
- motherhood — state of being a mother
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Related articles
First Black woman elected to Brazil's Academy of Letters
On July 10 Ana Maria Gonçalves was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL), becoming the first Black woman in its 128-year history. She is a novelist best known for Um defeito de cor.
Africa plans to make more vaccines
The African Union aims for the continent to make most of its own vaccines by 2040. Africa now produces very few vaccines, and plans include new partnerships, factories and international funding, but experts warn of big challenges.
African leaders call for regional control of health research
With Official Development Assistance to Africa down and the continent carrying a large disease burden, researchers call for more regional control of health research, local vaccine manufacturing and stronger policy action.
Modern kilns reduce fish losses at Lake Malawi
Researchers developed enclosed fish-smoking kilns to help processors on Lake Malawi. The kilns use less firewood, speed smoking and aim to cut post-harvest losses and help hundreds of processors by 2026.
Botanical Afterlife of Indenture
A collaborative exhibition in Port of Spain used archival photographs and plants carried by indentured people to explore Indo‑Caribbean histories, gender and memory. It ran from June 10 to 21 and took two years to make.
Nigeria factory begins large production of rapid test kits
A WHO‑licensed factory in Nigeria has started to produce a large number of rapid diagnostic test kits for HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, using mainly local parts and aiming to increase domestic production over coming years.