Coronavirus Is Widening The Gender Gap For Working Mothers

Mothers have disproportionately reduced work hours due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Working moms are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Photo by Leonard Beck on Unsplash.

Despite hopes that the coronavirus pandemic might equalize the situation between men and women, it has only made things worse for working mothers. When changes in work schedules have to be made, mothers are taking the reductions. New research shows that the decrease in mothers’ paid work is exacerbating the gender gap, and could have long-term consequences.

“Our findings indicate mothers are bearing the brunt of the pandemic and may face long-term employment penalties as a consequence,” said Caitlyn Collins, assistant professor of sociology in Arts & Sciences and co-author of the study in a press release.

The pandemic is increasing the gender gap

The gender gap in work hours has increased during the pandemic. Data came from 60,000 households surveyed by the U.S. Current Population Survey. The researchers looked specifically in changes from February to April in dual-earner heterosexual married households.

In April mothers’ work hours fell four to five times more than fathers’ hours did. While fathers continued working roughly the same hours they had before, mothers reduced work…