Ambitious moms often wonder if they’re just not trying hard enough — but the truth is, the system isn’t built to support them. From the motherhood penalty and pay gap to lack of affordable childcare and underfunded women’s health research, the odds are stacked high. In this episode, we take a closer look at the structural, cultural, and health barriers ambitious mothers face, and why investing in yourself is not selfish — it’s essential.
🎧 This episode is part of a mini-series on inner and outer barriers:
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References:
Budig, M. J., & Hodges, M. J. (2010). Differences in disadvantage: Variation in the motherhood penalty across white women’s earnings distribution. American Sociological Review, 75(5), 705–728. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122410381593
Eurostat (2023). Gender pay gap statistics. Retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/
Pew Research Center (2023). Gender pay gap factsheet. Retrieved from: https://www.pewresearch.org/
Child Care Aware of America (2024). The U.S. and the High Price of Child Care: 2024 Report.
UN Women (2020). Whose time to care? Unpaid care and domestic work during COVID-19.
Wellcome Trust (2020). Research funding for women’s health: an analysis.