4. In the article by Correll, Benard And Paik, \"Getting a Job: Is There a Mothe

Question

4. In the article by Correll, Benard And Paik, "Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty?" we saw evidence from laboratory and field experiments showing that mothers experience discrimination in hiring and salaries as a result of being viewed as less competent and committed workers. On the other hand, fathers enjoy an advantage over childless men. Using the example of asymmetric information, explain why it might seem rational to employers to hire and compensate workers unequally. What kinds of policies could overcome this disparity?

Explanation / Answer

It is a general idea of employers that the mothers are more likely to be less committed to the workplace. Thi substantially leads to a wage gap between mother and remaining workforce. Because of assymetric information, it is a traditional idea of employers that a mother is a less committed and lest competent in the workplace. If we cosider a mother and a non-mother , study shows that there is a clear discrimination between thier income. Thsi is because employer assumes, that a mother puts a great effort in child rearing and home management. This eventually leads to reduce the productivity of a mother than a non mother. There is also difference between pay and protmotion in case of a mother and a non mother. There s also a pay gap exists between a mother and a father. Unlike mother, a good father is not being considered as a less productive or less competent in the workplace. Moreover, it is a traditional thought that a good father and a good worker always works perfect together. In fact, studies also shows that a father receives higher wages than a childless man. It because employers measures that a married father is more productive and more committed than a unmarried childless man. This case is unlikely for married women. A mother always considered as less competent, less committed. This is because, Employers assume that a mother has more commitment to her family than to her workplace. She also may does not have the proper education or human capital to become more productive in workplace because of his child rearing and family management. This evaluation reflects in discrimination of promotion for a mother. Thus mothers encounter assymetric disadvantage in pay, promotion and other benefits comapred to remaining workforce.

Policies that could over come disparity :

(1) Maternity leave : In this policy, it is mandatory for employers to grant mothers to get absent over a period before or after child birth. This policy reduces the negetive effects of a motherhood and women are more likely to return in their work place after childbirth.

(2) Welfare Policy : This is a policy, where mother would get treated as a carer a t first, then she would get treated as a earner, as she has a duty of childrearing

(3) Childcare Policy : In this policy, Education is provided to the children under a certain age, which eventually suport the parental employment.

(4) Parental Leave : In this policy, where parents were provided leaves to take care of their child, though they would get paid for these period. This acts as an intencive to the mothers to be more productive in workplace and maintain a balance in workplace and family.

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