PebHmong Discussion Forum

Relationship => Marriage & Family Life => Topic started by: theking on July 14, 2026, 01:14:38 AM

Title: I can see why some women say NO cause it can be expensive in more ways than one
Post by: theking on July 14, 2026, 01:14:38 AM

Study shows how much having a child costs women over their careers—and it’s over $500K If you haven’t heard, having children is expensive. There’s childcare to consider, as well as the eye-watering price of equipment for your new bundle of joy. You then have to factor in the time taken off work to have the baby and the impact that has on future earnings potential. One study puts a number on exactly how big that dent is: $17,000 every year after becoming a mother.
The “motherhood penalty” describes the gap in lifetime earning potential between mothers and childless women, which reaches roughly \(\$500,000\) over a 30-year career. This breaks down to a \(\$17,000\) annual deficit, driven by lost wages, career interruptions, and time away from the workforce.Data from the Bankrate Motherhood Penalty Study reveals how this financial toll impacts women and how it compares to the professional reality for fathers

Title: Re: I can see why some women say NO cause it can be expensive in more ways than one
Post by: Prude on July 15, 2026, 10:55:58 AM

If you look at just the responsibiliti es, that's what that comes down to.

But if you look at the benefits, that's very little in comparison.

Having a kid brings you so much joy and also builds you incredibly
in ways that you have never experienced before. Even a Ph.D. doesn't
give you those benefits.

Can we weigh those two sides?