{"id":688,"date":"2025-09-18T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assistproject.eu\/?p=688"},"modified":"2025-09-18T09:25:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T09:25:22","slug":"equal-pay-and-mothers-with-disabilities-breaking-barriers-to-economic-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistproject.eu\/fr\/equal-pay-and-mothers-with-disabilities-breaking-barriers-to-economic-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Equal Pay and Mothers with Disabilities: Breaking Barriers to Economic Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each year on 18 September<\/strong>, the world marks International Equal Pay Day<\/strong>, a reminder that despite decades of progress, women continue to earn less than men for work of equal value. But for mothers with disabilities<\/strong>, this gap is even wider, shaped not only by gender but also by disability-based discrimination and structural barriers in the labour market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Double Disadvantage: Gender and Disability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women across the European Union earn on average 12.7% less than men<\/strong> (Eurostat, 2023). However, women with disabilities face an additional layer of exclusion. Research shows that they are more likely to be employed in part-time or precarious work, less likely to access paid parental leave, and more often excluded from career progression opportunities (European Disability Forum, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For mothers with disabilities, the challenge is compounded. Societal attitudes often undervalue their parenting role and question their professional capacities. Many report being passed over for promotions, denied flexible working arrangements, or discouraged from pursuing certain career paths due to both gendered and ableist stereotypes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic Insecurity and Parenthood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic inequality directly impacts family life. Lower earnings mean reduced access to secure housing, childcare, healthcare, and social participation. Mothers with disabilities are also more likely to rely on informal care networks and may face increased costs related to accessibility and healthcare, expenses that are rarely recognised in workplace policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lack of inclusive parental leave schemes<\/strong> makes the situation worse. Where policies exist, they often fail to account for the specific needs of mothers with disabilities, such as accessible maternity facilities, rehabilitation services, or tailored workplace reintegration support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Inclusive Workplaces Matter <\/strong> Ensuring equal pay and accessible employment opportunities is not only a matter of fairness; it is a human rights obligation<\/strong> under both the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)<\/strong> and the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021\u20132030<\/strong>. Workplace inclusion policies that specifically address the needs of mothers with disabilities can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n