A Systematic Review Of The Determinants Of Motherhood Wage Penalty

Abstract

This study sought to systematically review existing studies on determinants of the motherhood wage penalty and mechanisms that organizations and working mothers can use to reduce it.  The study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to gather and analyze related literature. A total of twenty six research articles, published between 2020 and 2025, were included in this systematic review. The study found several factors that determine the motherhood wage penalty: unconscious employer bias; employer discrimination; work-family policies; traditional gender norms and culture; gender-based division of labor; and job choices. To reduce the motherhood wage penalty, organizations should offer flexible work arrangements, childcare benefits, friendly leave schemes, and eliminate employer’s unconscious bias and workplace discrimination against working mothers with children. In addition, this systematic review recommends that policymakers should enact regulations, which prohibit gender discrimination, whilst ensuring that working mothers enjoy equal rights and opportunities in the workplace. This treatise contributes practically by advancing the knowledge of policymakers, organizations and working mothers with children around determinants of the motherhood wage penalty. In addition, this systematic literature review assists employers and working mothers with initiating specific intervention mechanisms to reduce the motherhood wage penalty. The systematic literature review also lays a foundation for future related research.