A new study published in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Applied Psychology challenges prior assumptions of the “motherhood penalty,” where women are viewed as less dedicated to their work due to their caregiving responsibilities. Instead, the research finds being a parent could lead to workplace advantages for women.
The research team conducted three surveys — two with Chinese samples and one with a U.S. sample — to examine how employees view their work as a way to serve as role models for their families, a concept the authors refer to as Family-Centered Symbolic Meaning of Work (FCSMW). Next, the authors asked participants about their workplace outcomes to determine if FCMSW was connected to measurable benefits at work.
According to their analysis, the authors found parenthood had no negative impact on women’s commitment to work. Instead, being a mother was associated with stronger motivation and improved workplace behaviors for women.
Despite these advantages, many women participants reported experiencing bias in the workplace, with some saying they feel pressure to downplay their family responsibilities to avoid professional stigma. Based on these findings, the authors encourage organizations to focus on fostering a culture that values family commitments rather than one that sees family obligations as a professional liability. This cultural shift could lead to better workplace performance among working parents.
The study was authored by scholars from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of South Florida, Shandong University in China, Providence College in Rhode Island, and the University of New Mexico.