Michelle Budig, associate professor of sociology and CPPA faculty associate, testified on September 30, 2010, before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee about the role of parenthood in the persistent gap between male and female earnings in this country.
Budig’s testimony about the kinds of policies that might reduce this gap was based in part on comparative research she conducted with Professor of Sociology and Public Policy Joya Misra and Irene Boeckmann, a doctoral student in sociology.
According to that research, which was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, publicly supported early childhood education programs, univeral family leave policies with provisions for paid maternal and paternal leaves, and stronger laws and enforcement governing workplace discrimination could all contribute to alleviating the “motherhood penalty” faced by U.S. workers.
The Joint Economic Committee is a bicameral Congressional Committee composed of members from both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. It is currently chaired by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
Budig’s full testimony is now posted on The Hill’s Congress Blog.