The Mommy Tax is the opportunity cost of raising kids, or the loss of income you experience if you have a child in this economy. A. Let's say you get paid maternity leave and you return to the same job. But you cannot relocate, you cannot take that higher paying management or executive job, and you do not gather seniority as a result or you are not promoted. You've lost the opportunity to move up and earn more.
Some women are unable to get paid leave or if it is available, the workplace frowns on such leaves.
Because they cannot bear not to have any leave at all, they quit the job to care for their child and return later, which means they will pay a big, big price when they retire. Also, the wage gap between mothers and childless women under age 35 is now greater than the gap between young men and women. Yes, this is a gender neutral argument. Whoever is raising the children, be it the mother, father or day-care provider, is not given the respect he or she is due. They sometimes pay a higher tax and they may have much more to lose in the workplace.