Celebrate the ambition of working mothers

They say that if you want to get something done, give it to a mother. And our data show that mothers are also very motivated to do it well.

Four out of five mothers want to be promoted to the next level in their career, which is more than women overall, according to our 2024 Women in the Workplace data. Mothers are also more likely than women overall to say they are interested in becoming senior leaders.

The proven motivation mothers have to advance in their careers contradicts one of the strongest forms of biases that women face at work: maternal bias. Motherhood triggers false assumptions that women are less committed to their careers—and even less competent. As a result, they are held to higher standards and presented with fewer opportunities. For example, mothers are often encouraged to work fewer hours or not travel for work—and they’re likely to be judged and held back when they do.

Indeed, mothers are significantly more likely than fathers to say they feel they have missed out on a raise, promotion, or chance to get ahead because of being a parent.

This bias impacts their earning potential as well. Yesterday was Moms’ Equal Pay Day, a day intended to highlight that mothers earn $0.62 for every $1 earned by fathers. This means that, on average, working mothers in the U.S. are paid 38% less than working fathers. Also, a mother’s pay often stagnates or falls after their first child, whereas men’s pay often rises—despite an increase in ambition across genders when they become parents.

So as we head into Mother’s Day weekend, consider if there is an opportunity at your workplace to help moms combat the biases they face. Simply forwarding this email to someone you work with could be a great place to start.