Material penalty or psychological penalty? The motherhood penalty in academic libraries in China

Wage differences and career development limitations faced by working mothers are often termed the motherhood penalty. However, little is known about the nature or extent of such penalty in Chinese academic libraries in the wake of rapid economic and social changes. Using a sample of 450 respondents from Chinese academic libraries, this study applies quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the penalties faced by mothers working as librarians. The results showed that mother librarians faced penalties not in terms of salary or professional title, but in terms of work-family balance and overall happiness. This study revealed a “hidden” psychological penalty that should be given more attention in the future.