Are companies tipping the scale to choose men for their jobs?

When we were debating the Paternity Leave Law in Ecuador a fact came into the light. Private and public companies were tipping the scale to choose men for their jobs. Why?? Because having men in office was easier for companies. They didn’t have to pay them for maternity leave and breast-feeding. They did not have to worry if they get pregnant in any case.

Passing the law in Ecuador gave us a better family environment in any job, but also took a little bit of weight out of women’s scale.

When I read in Tarr - Whelan’s book about the “mommified”, that example came to my mind, but also, I shocked when I read this passage:

“Among peoples ages 27-33 that have never had children, women’s earnings approach 98% of men’s. Many women will hit the glass ceiling but many more will crash into the maternal wall. Ellen Goodman is right. Young women are closing the wage gap, but only until they have children”.

Is this true? If it is, can we change it?

My husband and I want to have children, but we want the family - work balance also. I think we will be able to do it, but this could happen only if we break the myths and change the bias. Can we do it? I think so. I found comforting ideas in this book that make me think that is not only a desire to do it. I think it is also our obligation to the new generation that is coming.