Strapped For Time? A Survey Experiment of Time Commitments and the Motherhood Wage Penalty

• In Event: 41021 - Student Forum Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 21: Quantitative Methods

Abstract

Mothers continue to face a significant wage penalty compared to non-mothers, even when demonstrating similar productivity. This “motherhood penalty” is often attributed to employer biases regarding commitment and competence. However, it remains unclear whether these biases stem from actual time constraints or the status of being a mother. This study investigates how perceptions of time commitments contribute to the motherhood penalty and whether these effects vary by race, gender, and sexual orientation. Using a survey experiment, we present participants with HR reports describing employees with different time constraints—parenting, elderly caretaking, or marathon running—and assess employer evaluations of commitment, salary recommendations, and managerial suitability. Preliminary results suggest that parents are perceived as more committed than marathon runners and slightly more than caregivers, yet they receive lower salary recommendations. Additionally, race, gender, and sexuality influence employer evaluations: Black employees and women are rated as less committed and assigned lower salaries than white employees and men, with Black employees facing a statistically significant wage penalty. Conversely, gay employees receive higher salary recommendations, particularly gay white men engaged in competitive sports. This study disentangles the impact of time constraints from broader biases against mothers, offering new insights into how race, gender, and sexuality shape workplace perceptions. By highlighting the intersectional nature of time-use penalties, our findings inform policies aimed at reducing wage disparities and improving workplace equity.

Authors

• Ahyeon Cho, University of California-Los Angeles

• Riley Ceperich, University of California-Los Angeles