SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Tara Taylor is passionate about helping moms. She started Single Mom Strong in Sacramento. It's a nonprofit organization on a mission to empower single mothers and their children through enrichment, encouragement and educational programs.
Some of the programs include pre-employment coaching and career exploration workshops. The workshop provides moms with access to industries with low educational requirements and high income potential. Unlike most career fairs, childcare is available on-site during the event.
The pre-employment coaching comes with one-on-one sessions to help mothers succeed in the workplace. That includes resume reviews, mock interviews and conversations about long-term career goals.
"We've created programs that really remove barriers to single parent family success," Taylor said. "There are equal pay issues in so many industries and there are so many industries that have been male dominated, historically, but there are many roles that women are capable of doing. They just do not have the information or access into those pathways."
Women are financially penalized for having children. It's often referred to as the "Motherhood Penalty." That's when a women's pay decreases once they become mothers. According to the nonprofit American Association of University Women (AAUW), mothers only make 58 cents for every dollar paid to fathers.
Additional research shows hiring managers are less likely to hire mothers compared to women who don't have kids, and when employers do make an offer to a mother, they offer her a lower salary than they do other women. The AAUW goes on to explain that men, by contrast, do not suffer a penalty when they become dads. In fact, there's some evidence of a "fatherhood bonus" in which their earnings actually increase.
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"The Motherhood Penalty is probably rooted in traditional gender-roles," Taylor said. "There's a misconception that a dad is bringing home the pay for the family while mom is just extra for the family, but that is so far from the truth in today's world. When you penalize a mom for being a mom, you are penalizing a quarter of our population. That's an archaic way of thinking. It's really hurting opportunities for families."
The AAUW explains women comprise almost half of the U.S. labor force and many of those women are mothers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 71% of mothers with children at home are working. The Center for American Progress reports women are the sole or primary breadwinner in 41% of American households with children.
Kamla Dixon has a daughter. She turns to Single Mom Strong for support. She says one of the best services is the career clothing closet where moms get to shop for free.
"Moms should make the same amount as dads," Dixon said. "We do about the same amount of work and sometimes even more. There are some wonderful dads out there, but we should get a mommy bonus, like there's a fatherhood bonus, too. It's not fair. Single Mom Strong has helped me. I've used the career closet to get clothes for work. It helps me feel more confident. I've done the career coaching too. It helps to have another mom go over your resume or just give you the extra support you need."
Karyn Newmark is a journeyman electrician at SMUD. She's partnered with Single Mom Strong before to give presentations during career exploration workshops. She's taught others how to succeed as a working mom and get access to well paying jobs.
"Being a mom of five kids, I know what it's like to be a working mom," Newmark said. "I love what I do. It's hard work but it is very satisfying. I get to serve the community, which is a big deal."
The motherhood wage gap exists in every state. According to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG), mothers make only 77 cents for every dollar paid to fathers in California. Working moms face many challenges to economic security, from the motherhood penalty to a lack of paid leave and a persistent gender wage gap.
The CCSWG says policy change is a vital need for families struggling due to these inequities. The CCSWG adds legislators must offer support through laws promoting fair pay, address workplace discrimination and harassment, and ensure the economic security of working families.
"I would just encourage moms to not let those barriers get in their way," Taylor said. "There are places, like Single Mom Strong and other great resources in our community, that can connect you to opportunity."
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