Work

Gender Inequalities and Motherhood Penalties across French and German Local Labor Markets

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This data visualization examines the relationship between motherhood earnings penalties and gender earnings gaps across local labor markets in France and Germany. Drawing on harmonized administrative data, the authors document a strong positive association: regions with larger motherhood penalties tend to exhibit wider gender earnings gaps. This pattern holds across all Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics second-division regions, where a 1 percent increase in the motherhood penalty corresponds to a 0.3 percent higher gender earnings gap. The relationship is even stronger within countries, with the average association rising to 0.7 percent. These findings suggest that regional differences in gender earnings inequality are strongly associated with the magnitude of motherhood penalties.

Source: Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World

DOI: 10.1177/23780231251374110

Authors: Sander Wagner, Andreas Filser, Pascal Achard, Inga Marie Amend

Institutions: University of Oxford, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt und Berufsforschung, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL

Language: English

Topic: Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, No poverty

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,000