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Featured ArticlesArticle Title
The Invisibility of Women’s Unpaid Work in Gender Policies
Journal Issue
Volume 28, 2021Abstract
Despite significant improvements in gender equality over the last few decades, the gender pay gap persists. The unequal distribution of unpaid care work is one factor that explains the wage difference between men and women. On average, women spend disproportionally more time on unpaid care work and domestic chores than men, and they are more likely to work part-time, reduce working hours, or turn down promotions due to family responsibilities. This behavior creates a work-experience gap between men and women. Considering that years of work experience may determine wages, this article analyzes the work-experience gap as an underlying cause of the gender pay gap and advocates for family-friendly policies that promote affordable access to child care, paid family leave, and flexible, but predictable, paid work schedules