Pregnancy Discrimination Is Rampant Inside America's Biggest Companies
Marie Claire Malaysia|August 2018

U.S. companies have spent years trying to become more welcoming to women. They have rolled out generous parental leave policies, designed cushy lactation rooms and plowed millions of dollars into programme aimed at retaining mothers. But these advances haven’t changed a simple fact: Whether women work at Walmart or on Wall Street, getting pregnant is often the moment they are knocked off the professional ladder

Pregnancy Discrimination Is Rampant Inside America's Biggest Companies
Throughout the U.S. workplace, pregnancy discrimination remains widespread. It can start as soon as a woman is showing, and it often lasts through her early years as a mother.

The New York Times reviewed thousands of pages of court and public records and interviewed dozens of women, their lawyers and government officials. A clear pattern emerged. Many of the country’s largest and most prestigious companies still systematically sideline pregnant women. They pass them over for promotions and raises. They fire them when they complain.

In physically demanding jobs the discrimination can be blatant. Pregnant women risk losing their jobs when they ask to carry water bottles or take rest breaks.

In corporate office towers, the discrimination tends to be more subtle. Pregnant women and mothers are often perceived as less committed, steered away from prestigious assignments, excluded from client meetings and slighted at bonus season.

Each child chops 4 percent off a woman’s hourly wages, according to a 2014 analysis by a sociologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Men’s earnings increase by 6 percent when they become fathers, after controlling for experience, education, marital status and hours worked.

“Some women hit the maternal wall long before the glass ceiling,” said Joan C. Williams, a professor at University of California Hastings College of Law who has testified about pregnancy discrimination at regulatory hearings. “There are 20 years of lab studies that show the bias exists and that, once triggered, it’s very strong.”

Of course, plenty of women decide to step back from their careers after becoming mothers. But for those who want to keep working at the same level, getting pregnant and having a child often deals them an involuntary setback.

Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Marie Claire Malaysia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Marie Claire Malaysia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA MARIE CLAIRE MALAYSIASe alt
High Fashion Takes A Stand Against The Covid-19 Pandemic
Marie Claire Malaysia

High Fashion Takes A Stand Against The Covid-19 Pandemic

As the world battles the turbulent effects of COVID-19, fashion’s most prestigious luxury groups join in on the fight against the novel coronavirus

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2020
She NAILED It
Marie Claire Malaysia

She NAILED It

Pursuing a successful career beautifying the nails of Hollywood’s who’s who is incredibly intense—but it is also incredibly rewarding. Sought out by Hollywood’s elite, nail artist Thuy Nguyen gives us a closer insight on her journey as an artist in La-La land

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2020
The ILLUSTRATOR of DREAMS
Marie Claire Malaysia

The ILLUSTRATOR of DREAMS

Azza Arif gives an exclusive insight into the romantic world of Elie Saab, brought to life with the creativity of fashion photography and digital illustration using Apple’s creative essentials—the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPad Pro

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2020
The Newest BEAUTY BOSSES
Marie Claire Malaysia

The Newest BEAUTY BOSSES

Redefining the Malaysian beauty scene, Marie Claire Malaysia explores exactly how our homegrown future shapers are thriving in the local landscape of beauty

time-read
9 mins  |
May 2020
YUNA AT HOME
Marie Claire Malaysia

YUNA AT HOME

We all know her as the woman with a POWERFUL VOICE. An international name, YUNA acknowledges the role her soulful MUSIC plays in the lives of her listeners, and despite her stardom, strives to CONNECT with her audiences during this pandemic through Instagram live sessions, and SHARING her KNOWLEDGE of music through virtual intimate classes she calls Tiny Class. She talks to Azza Arif about life at home under MCO, the CHANGES she hopes to see within the music industry, her LOVE for her QUARANTINE PARTNER and husband, Adam—including what habits she picked up from him; and the advice she would give to her 15-YEAR OLD SELF

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2020
REINVENTING The Traditional Business Model
Marie Claire Malaysia

REINVENTING The Traditional Business Model

Innovative partnerships might be the solution brands need to stay relevant

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2020
DESIGNERS to WATCH
Marie Claire Malaysia

DESIGNERS to WATCH

Stay in the know with our curated list of talented emerging designers that will keep you looking fashion-forward for any occasion

time-read
3 mins  |
May 2020
6 TIPS for a BETTER ORGASM
Marie Claire Malaysia

6 TIPS for a BETTER ORGASM

Achieving consistent, mind-blowing orgasms doesn’t necessarily have to be a distant dream—there are little tricks that can help you learn how to have better—and more frequent—orgasms

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2020
SPRING Training
Marie Claire Malaysia

SPRING Training

Spring clean and revamp your post gym skincare essentials to not only maximise your body and mind, but your beauty health too

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2020
Of Mentors and PROTÉGÉS
Marie Claire Malaysia

Of Mentors and PROTÉGÉS

Supporting quality, excellence and performance— a cross-generational exchange like no other. Rolex unveils its list of inspiring mentors and talented protégés for the 2020-2021 Rolex Arts Initiative

time-read
1 min  |
April 2020