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Original article: Maternar y trabajar por un salario: Desafíos y deudas pendientes

By Dr. María Cecilia Fernández Darraz, Center for Gender Studies, Catholic University of Temuco

May brings two dates that are rarely read together: Labor Day and, on a more familial and commercial note, Mother’s Day. Highlighting them in conjunction reveals an ongoing unresolved tension.

On one side, we advocate for labor rights; on the other, we celebrate motherhood as a social value. However, when these experiences intersect, recognition doesn’t always prevail; sometimes, social sanction and a lack of rights and opportunities arise.

Decades of research continue to demonstrate that women are concentrated in precarious jobs that are socially and economically undervalued, resulting in lower wages. Furthermore, during crises, women are often the first to face unemployment. These inequalities become even more pronounced when women become mothers.

For many, the central issue is the “balance” between work and family. Indeed, this aspect is significant. Yet to continue asserting that it’s only about achieving balance is misleading, especially considering the experiences of countries that have implemented policies for decades in this area.

The phenomenon of “motherhood penalty,” widely studied, is not an abstract concept; it translates into lower earnings, fewer opportunities, and more vulnerable career paths.

While mothers face these challenges, fathers often find their positions at work strengthened. In this context, biases and silent sanctions operate against mothers: they are frequently perceived as less committed, less efficient due to “domestic issues,” and must constantly prove their merit, while their work availability is questioned.

These are forms of inequality that are rarely named but are internalized and felt through largely symbolic mechanisms.

As a society, we need to confront the tensions between motherhood and paid work, especially in light of concerns about low birth rates. We must understand that mothering and caregiving are not individual “problems” to be solved by anyone at their own discretion; they are structural issues that require profound social and state engagement.

Advancing reconciliation measures is necessary, but not sufficient. The underlying challenge is to build a society where motherhood is not seen as a problem for work and does not lead to disadvantages. Only then will the breakfasts and flowers of May cease to be mere symbolic gestures and become celebrations of a fairer working life for women.

Dr. María Cecilia Fernández Darraz

La entrada Balancing Motherhood and Work: Ongoing Challenges and Unresolved Issues se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.