Exploring the Motherhood Penalty in China: A Scoping Review of Key Manifestations and Influencing Factors
- 1 International School, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This scoping review explores the phenomenon of the "motherhood penalty" in China, a growing issue within the global gender equality discourse. The motherhood penalty refers to the wage and career disadvantages that women experience in the labor market due to their roles as mothers. Despite global research on this topic, limited studies have examined the specific manifestations and influencing factors of the motherhood penalty in China. This review aims to fill this gap by synthesizing 24 empirical studies published between 2013 and 2024, primarily utilizing quantitative methods. The review follows Arksey and O'Malley's five-step framework to analyze the studies. The review identifies four main manifestations of the motherhood penalty in China: lower income, labor force participation and career interruptions, and restricted career development. Moreover, it examines key factors that contribute to these penalties, including family structure, education, workplace sector, intergenerational support, gender norms, and policy. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on the motherhood penalty in China, highlighting the need for future research and policy intervention to address the issue.
Keywords
motherhood penalty, Chinese women, wage gap, gender equality, family role
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Cite this article
Lin,J. (2025). Exploring the Motherhood Penalty in China: A Scoping Review of Key Manifestations and Influencing Factors. Communications in Humanities Research,60,36-44.
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