A symbolic seesaw representing the balance between work and family in Poland, illustrating the gender pay gap issue.

The Parenthood Trap: Unmasking the Real Reasons Behind Poland's Gender Pay Gap

Samir D’Costa in Culture & Society August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Is parenthood widening the income disparity in Poland? A new study uncovers the hidden forces at play."

Poland has long been a curious case in the gender equality debate. On one hand, it boasts one of the lowest gender pay gaps in Europe and a high representation of women in STEM and managerial roles. On the other, it remains a socially conservative country with strong traditional values. This contrast makes Poland an ideal place to examine the economic impact of parenthood on gender equality.

Conventional methods of assessing gender pay gaps, which typically focus on hourly wages, often fail to capture the full picture. In Poland, where female labor force participation rates are notably low, these metrics can be misleading. A more accurate approach considers total personal monthly income after taxes, offering a comprehensive view of economic realities for both women and men.

A recent study employs a modified placebo event method to investigate income trajectories of women and men around the time they become parents. This innovative approach sheds light on how parenthood shapes different labor market outcomes, revealing surprising trends and challenges to traditional assumptions.

The Anticipatory Effect: How Expectations of Parenthood Impact Income

A symbolic seesaw representing the balance between work and family in Poland, illustrating the gender pay gap issue.

The study reveals an intriguing "anticipatory behavior" among both women and men expecting to become parents. This suggests that individuals start making financial and career adjustments even before the arrival of their child.

Mothers' income takes a hit post-birth, decreasing by approximately 20 percent. This decline aligns with the well-documented "child penalty," where women often experience reduced earnings, income, and employment opportunities after having children.

The Child Penalty: Mothers typically adjust their labor market behavior and encounter declines in earnings, income, employment, and hours worked.
Patriarchal Norms: Penalties are intertwined with patriarchal gender norms, although it remains unclear whether such norms mediate or condition the declines in economic outcomes experienced by mothers.

Fathers, however, experience a different trajectory. Their income surpasses that of non-fathers both before and after the birth, suggesting a "fatherhood child premium." However, the study indicates that this premium may be primarily driven by selection, meaning that men who are already successful in the labor market are more likely to become fathers.

Parenthood's Real Impact: Shifting Focus to Labor Force Participation and Hours Worked

This study underscores that parenthood in Poland has a significant impact on labor force participation and the willingness to work more hours. The gender gaps are rooted in differences in labor market participation and hours worked, more than in wage rates. To truly bridge the economic divide, policies and societal attitudes must address these fundamental disparities, creating a more equitable landscape for working parents.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary focus of the study regarding the gender pay gap in Poland?

The study focuses on how parenthood impacts income for both women and men in Poland. It moves beyond traditional metrics like hourly wages to consider total personal monthly income after taxes, providing a more comprehensive view of economic realities. The research employs a modified placebo event method to investigate income trajectories around the time of parenthood, uncovering surprising trends and challenges to traditional assumptions about gender equality in the workplace.

How does parenthood affect women's income in Poland according to the study?

The study reveals that mothers in Poland experience a 'child penalty' after childbirth. Their income decreases by approximately 20 percent. This decline is associated with women adjusting their labor market behavior, facing reduced earnings, income, employment opportunities, and working hours. The study emphasizes that these outcomes are intertwined with patriarchal gender norms, although the precise relationship remains to be fully understood.

What is the 'fatherhood child premium' and how is it explained in the study?

The study indicates a 'fatherhood child premium,' where fathers' income surpasses that of non-fathers both before and after the birth of a child. However, the study suggests that this premium is primarily driven by selection. This means that men who are already successful in the labor market are more likely to become fathers. This premium is not necessarily a direct result of becoming a father, but rather reflects pre-existing advantages in the job market.

What is the 'anticipatory effect' and how does it relate to parenthood in the context of this research?

The study highlights an 'anticipatory behavior' among both women and men expecting to become parents. This means that individuals begin making financial and career adjustments even before the arrival of their child. This behavior impacts their income trajectories and labor market outcomes, and is a crucial aspect of understanding how parenthood shapes gender inequality. It reveals that the impacts of parenthood extend beyond the immediate period surrounding childbirth, shaping decisions and outcomes even earlier.

Beyond wages, what specific aspects of labor market dynamics does this study emphasize when examining the gender pay gap in Poland?

The study underscores that parenthood in Poland significantly impacts labor force participation and the willingness to work more hours. The gender gaps are rooted in differences in labor market participation and hours worked, more than in wage rates. Therefore, addressing the gender pay gap requires policies and societal attitudes that target these fundamental disparities, creating a more equitable landscape for working parents. This includes addressing issues related to the 'child penalty' and the potential influence of patriarchal norms.