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New Studies Shed Light on Factors Driving Gender Pay Gap
Insights include how women in groups are perceived, women taking on more work, and the impact of motherhood on earnings.
Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:26am
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Three new studies provide fresh insights into potential contributors to the persistent gender pay gap. The first study found that men benefit financially from working in all-male groups, but women are penalized when they team up with other women. The second study showed that while women won't accept less pay, they are more willing to take on a heavier workload for the same pay. The third study examined women born without a uterus, finding that the absence of a 'motherhood penalty' allows them to achieve earnings on par with men.
Why it matters
These studies highlight the subtle, systemic forces that continue to shape how women's work and contributions are valued in the workplace. The findings suggest the gender pay gap is not simply a result of individual choices, but rather reflects broader societal biases and expectations placed on women.
The details
The first study found that men in all-male groups tend to earn more than men working solo, while women in all-female groups earn less than women working alone. Researchers say this is because women working together are perceived as a threat, even if that's not the case. The second study showed that while women won't accept less pay than men, they are more willing to take on a heavier workload for the same pay, likely due to being accustomed to unequal household responsibilities. The third study examined women born with MRKH syndrome, who cannot have biological children. It found these women achieve earnings on par with men, suggesting the 'motherhood penalty' is a major driver of the gender pay gap.
- The gender pay gap data is from 2024, when women earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 83 cents the previous year.
- Equal Pay Day is March 26, symbolizing how far into the year women must work to earn what men made the previous year.
The players
Mallory Decker
Lead author of the study on how women in groups are financially penalized, and a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Camille Landais
An economics professor at the London School of Economics who led a study examining the earnings of women born without a uterus.
What’s next
The researchers plan to further examine how societal biases and expectations contribute to the persistent gender pay gap, with the goal of identifying ways to create more equitable workplaces.
The takeaway
These studies highlight how the gender pay gap is driven by complex, systemic factors that go beyond individual choices. Addressing the gap will require tackling deep-seated biases and rethinking workplace norms and expectations placed on women.
