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  4. I Went To Law School For This? The Motherhood Penalty In Young Female Attorneys' Salaries

I Went To Law School For This? The Motherhood Penalty In Young Female Attorneys' Salaries

File(s)
mds296.pdf (399.89 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/31102
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Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Shanks, Megan
Abstract

This study presents two estimates of a motherhood penalty for young female attorneys. In the first phase, I utilize three different models in a regression analysis to examine which theoretical mechanisms might explain the presence of a motherhood penalty. In the second phase of this study, I employ a two-stage counterfactual approach utilizing a doubly robust weighted regression. I control for likelihood of selection into treatment with variables representing the most common theoretical mechanisms leading to the motherhood wage penalty, then utilize that selection likelihood to weight a second regression. I find that while there is a small motherhood penalty in the first phase multiple regression, there does not appear to be a motherhood penalty when only female attorneys are examined in the second phase weighted regression. I discuss implications of these findings and directions for future research.

Date Issued
2012-08-20
Keywords
motherhood penalty
•
fatherhood bonus
•
lawyer
•
earnings
Committee Chair
Lichter, Daniel T.
Committee Member
Mettler, Suzanne Bridget
Dunifon, Rachel E.
Degree Discipline
Policy Analysis and Management
Degree Name
M.S., Policy Analysis and Management
Degree Level
Master of Science
Type
dissertation or thesis

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