The Centre for European Studies and the Centre for Women’s Studies at Pondicherry University organized a guest lecture on Gender Norms and the Motherhood Penalty: Experimental Evidence from India by Arjun Singh Bedi from The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Kortenaerkade, The Netherlands on 25th September 2024. The event, held at Seminar Hall I of the School of Social Sciences & International Studies, aimed to enhance students’ understanding of gender biases and the challenges faced by women in the workforce due to the motherhood penalty. Participants from various university departments and centres attended the session, which encouraged critical thinking on addressing these barriers in the Indian context.
The programme began with a welcome address by Dr. Aashita, Head i/c at the Centre for Women’s Studies, who highlighted the event’s significance. Arjun Singh Bedi then delivered his lecture, explaining the motherhood penalty, where women experience disadvantages such as lower wages and fewer opportunities after motherhood. He discussed how gender norms and societal expectations contribute to this issue. Bedi’s research examined three communities—the matrilineal Khasi tribe and the patriarchal Naga and Bengali communities—to explore employer biases in hiring mothers. The findings revealed that Khasi mothers were more frequently selected for employment, suggesting that matrilineal cultural norms may reduce the motherhood penalty compared to patriarchal structures.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Kamalaveni, Associate Professor and Head of the Centre for European Studies, marking the end of a successful session that provided valuable insights into how cultural norms shape gender biases and employment outcomes for mothers in India.
