94% of Working Mothers Report a Career Cost From Motherhood. 70% Say It Has Also Helped Their Careers

New Mothered Media research of 544 working mothers finds the costs and gains of motherhood at work show up in the same women, often at the same time. Reported bias rises with seniority and family size.

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Most conversations about working motherhood focus on what it costs women's careers. A new report from Mothered Media, The Trade-Offs & Gains of Working Motherhood, finds that's only half the picture. Of the 544 working mothers surveyed, 94% report at least one career cost because of motherhood, and 70% say it has also helped their careers. 68% report both.

Download the full report: https://www.motheredmedia.com/trade-off-and-gains-of-working-motherhood-report

Key findings:

• Almost every working mother reports a cost. 94% report at least one: turning down an opportunity, accepting lower pay, a smaller role or fewer hours, or experiencing bias or possible bias.
• The costs are specific. 73% have turned down a career or business opportunity because of motherhood, and 72% accepted lower pay, a smaller role or fewer hours.
• The gains are real. 70% believe motherhood has helped their career, and 68% report both a cost and a gain.
• Bias rises with seniority. Reported bias goes from 63% of entry-level mothers to 88% at director level and above.
• Bias rises with family size. 72% of mothers with one child report bias or possible bias, rising to 91% for mothers with three or more.

"Women are usually told becoming a mother is either a setback or a superpower. This research shows it's both, often in the same woman, in the same year," said Alexa Starks, founder and CEO of Mothered Media. "If we only measure the costs, we miss what motherhood builds. If we only celebrate the gains, we miss what it's costing women. Employers and society need to see both to design workplaces and systems that actually support these women."

The report also covers flexible work, the childcare gap, and a ten-question workplace self-check for employers.

Download the full report: https://www.motheredmedia.com/trade-off-and-gains-of-working-motherhood-report

About the research: Online survey of 544 working mothers in 20+ countries, conducted August 22 to October 4, 2026.

About Mothered Media: Mothered Media is a global research, media, and advocacy platform exploring how motherhood transforms leadership, work, identity, and culture. Through reports, storytelling, campaigns, and community-driven initiatives, we are helping shape a more sustainable and human future for working mothers everywhere.

Media contact: Alexa Starks, [email protected], +310628181976

SOURCE Mothered Media