{
  "id": 1802311,
  "title": "How the ‘mommy track’ derails working women—and it’s only gotten worse",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/how-the-mommy-track-derails-working-women-and-its-only-gotten-worse",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91592058/how-the-mommy-track-derails-working-women-and-its-only-gotten-worse"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1988, journalist Jennifer A. Kingston coined the term \"mommy track,\" describing a new phenomenon in prestigious law firms offering flexible hours and maternity leave for women. However, these women were often relegated to the \"mommy track\" with limited promotion prospects. Women who chose to prioritize family often faced criticism from male colleagues. Nearly three decades later, the situation has not significantly improved. Columbia University researchers found that women's salaries drop by half on average after having children and remain low for at least six years. As of 2023, 845,000 women left the workforce, with more women losing jobs compared to men. Childcare costs have risen by 29% between 2020 and 2024. The term \"mommy exodus\" now describes this trend. High-profile examples, like White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's resignation, highlight the challenges mothers face balancing work and family. The author argues that systemic changes are needed, citing how childcare centers were subsidized during WWII and during the COVID pandemic. The author suggests that companies could similarly adapt work schedules to accommodate working parents, citing Cakes, a company that offers a monthly stipend and aligns work hours with school hours. However, few companies have adopted such measures. The author concludes that the \"mommy track\" and \"mommy exodus\" are not solely the women's choice, but rather a societal issue that demands collective action.",
  "summary": "In 1988 New York Times journalist Jennifer A. Kingston introduced “mommy track” to the lexicon: Kingston described a then-new phenomenon where prestigious law firms started offering flexible hours and maternity leave to women. However, Kingston pointed out there was a catch: women who took these perks were put on the “mommy track” with no potential for promotion. “Women who choose to put in fewer…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}