World News for Students of English

07-07-2025 07:00

Research shows that 15 years after college, US mothers earn 11% less than women without children and 42% less than fathers. This is called the “motherhood penalty.”

Many women who became mothers told The New York Times that having kids forced them to leave careers or take part-time jobs. Child care was too expensive, and some had children with special needs. One woman said motherhood should come with a warning label. Another said she lost 750,000 dollars in potential earnings. Mothers said they were tired, stressed, and left out of promotions or special projects. While men with kids often advanced, women with kids disappeared from the workplace. Many stopped saving for retirement or lost job benefits like pensions and Social Security. Some felt trapped, dependent on their husbands, or scared for the future. Others couldn’t return to work even with degrees and experience. Still, most said having children was worth it. They just didn’t expect the financial and emotional cost to be so high.

Difficult words: potential (possible), promotion (moving to a higher level with more pay, responsibility, and recognition), pension (money you get after retirement).