Denmark’s generous child care and parental leave policies erase 80% of the ‘motherhood penalty’ for working moms

Two researchers found that Danish government benefits do not fully offset moms’ lost earnings. But they do help offset lost income for working women with kids.

By: Alexandra Killewald, University of Michigan, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 2, 2026

Words: 1,106

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Alexandra Killewald, University of Michigan

For many women in the U.S. and around the world, motherhood comes with career costs.

Raising children tends to lead to lower wages and fewer work hours for mothers – but not fathers – in the United States and around the world.

As a sociologist, I study how family relationships can shape your economic circumstances. In the past, I’ve studied how motherhood tends to …

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