Page 26 - INSIGHT MAGAZINE Digital_Neat

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

The motherhood pay gap: — mental shortcuts for solving problems — to judge worker quality,
as opposed to actual information about their performance. This
Why women’s earnings can result in fewer bonuses and promotions for these employees.
decline after having children The effects of parenthood
Evidence from Denmark, one of the most egalitarian countries in
Inequalities between men and women persist in many areas, with the world, points to a long-term child penalty of around 20 per cent
women still earning less than men on average. An even more in earnings. Our research reveals a similar situation in Canada. We
striking difference is the “motherhood pay gap” that happens used data from Statistics Canada’s Longitudinal and International
when women have children. Also known as the “family gap” or Study of Adults coupled with historical administrative records
child penalties, women’s earnings plummet after the birth of a from 1982 to 2018.
child, while men’s barely budge. We compared what happened to men’s and women’s earnings
Many studies have investigated the causes of gender inequalities after the birth of their first child for Canadians who had their first
and concluded that women have been unable to catch up to the child between 1987 and 2009. Using an event study methodology,
earnings level of men in part because of parenting responsibilities. we followed individuals’ employment income over a period of five
Why does this happen? Children have a negative effect on women’s years before the birth of the child to 10 years after. We observed
productivity in the labour market by substantially reducing their large and persistent negative effects of parenthood for mothers,
human capital, which translates into a significant decrease in their but not fathers. Mothers’ earnings decrease by 49 per cent the
earnings. year of birth, with a penalty of 34.3 per cent 10 years after. Fathers’
earnings appear largely unaffected.
After the birth of children, mothers tend to turn towards part-time
jobs, roles with flexible working hours or positions that offer work Unequal effects of children
conditions more favourable to family life — all of which tend to The birth of children results in large earnings losses that are not
pay lower wages. equally distributed within heterosexual couples. Fathers stay
Employers, in return, may see part-time employees as less on the same earnings track, while women experience penalties
committed and productive, especially when relying on heuristics that persist over the years. This is especially true for mothers of
multiple children or those with a lower education level.

Dr. Laura Ostofe is the dedicated owner and lead chiropractor
at Active Health Associates, a thriving multidisciplinary clinic in
Cambridge, Ontario. With deep roots in her community-having
called Cambridge home since she was twelve-Dr. Ostofe combined
her passion for health and sports to create a clinic centered on
compassion, expertise, and patient-focused care.
A former competitive gymnast turned sports enthusiast, she
understands firsthand the psychological and physical challenges
of injury and recovery. This background informs her approach: she
has treated hundreds of sports-related injuries, working with local
athletes across football, soccer, and hockey teams. Her expertise
extends beyond spinal adjustments to concussion management
and soft tissue therapy-she is also a registered massage therapist.
Dr. Ostofe graduated with clinical honours from the Canadian
Memorial Chiropractic College. Beyond her practice, she contributes
to the professional community as an assistant training officer
with the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board. Contactout
Her leadership and excellence have been recognized by her
DR. LAURA OSTOFE community: she has been named Cambridge Times Reader’s
Owner and Lead Chiropractor at Active Health Choice Top Chiropractor many times. She also dedicates her time to
Associates volunteering and charity work within the community.

What truly distinguishes Dr. Ostofe is her philosophy of care. At
Active Health Associates, she and her team emphasize in-depth
consultations, education, and evidence-based treatment plans. She
prioritizes patient empowerment-explaining the “why” behind each
treatment and collaborating closely with clients and their family
(519) 624-1009 | drlaura@activehealthassociates.com physicians. Outside the clinic, Dr. Ostofe is a proud mother of three,
www.activehealthassociates.com living in the region, with her husband. Her ongoing commitment to
5-380 Sheldon Drive, Cambridge, ON N1T 2C2 both her patients and her community makes her not only a healer
but a trusted partner in her patient’s health and wellness.

26 Winter 2026 www.cambridgechamber.com