The Motherwork Effect

The Role of Cognitive Labour in the Motherhood Penalty

Abstract

In 2023, economist Claudia Goldin was awarded the Nobel Prize for her analysis of the gender wage gap in the United States. Goldin demonstrates that most of today’s gender wage gap for American college graduates starts with marriage and/or children, which is referred to as the “parenthood effect.” This article argues that the “parenthood effect” is a “motherwork effect” (as defined by Andrea O’Reilly). The income inequality identified by Goldin is heavily gendered, substantially driven by the labour of motherwork, and affects mothers all over the world. To identify and understand the problem, we must first acknowledge that this issue is not just about women: it is also, and mostly, about mothers. This article uses a matricentric feminism lens to highlight this distinction and to propose a paradigm shift in gender equality policies, guided by Gooden’s “name, blame, claim framework.” It explores why and how motherhood accentuates gender inequality by analyzing a recent study that quantifies the amount of household labour that mothers of young children tend to be responsible for and proposes a solution to the unequal division of household labour: the Fair Play cards. Finally, this article uses concepts from multiple matricentric feminist scholars to both commend and critique the Fair Play approach. Although this approach is an important contribution towards the goals of matricentric feminism, it may inadvertently reinforce the institutions of motherhood and patriarchy because it does not reach far enough in advancing empowered mothering (O’Reilly). It concludes by offering a few recommendations as next steps.