Microlesson Experts
Joan WilliamsRenowned Bias Expert
How Bias Against Mothers Impacts Advancement
Maternal wall bias shows up when working mothers are judged as less committed or capable. These assumptions harm careers and reduce workplace equity. This microlesson provides skills training to help employees recognize maternal wall bias, challenge stereotypes, and support parents in advancing professionally.
Microlesson Description
This skill-building microlesson illustrates how gender role discrimination toward mothers is a double-edged sword. As a result of the Maternal Wall bias, women are passed over for high-profile assignments and receive less pay and promotions than others when they take maternity leave. On the flip side, women are often criticized if they don’t take a long maternity leave. We offer downloadable exercises to help leaders and teams develop sensitivity to the Maternal Wall bias and the skill to address it at work. This microlesson is part of the Bias Interrupters program series based on Joan Williams and WorkLife Law's research on effective interventions to mitigate workplace bias. This microlesson series is also available in a full course with downloadable exercises to enable individual or group practice. Definition of The Maternal Wall Bias: Assumptions that women who are mothers are either uncommitted to their jobs if they take time off to care for their families or cold and uncaring if they don’t.Key Concepts
- Provide consistent opportunities and support to women, regardless of maternal status.
- Don’t assume that mothers are secondary breadwinners or that fathers don’t have caregiving responsibilities.
- Provide as much flexibility as possible, so that all parents can juggle work and caregiving responsibilities.
- Use data and metrics to track performance rather than assumptions.
How to Use this Content:
Use this content as part of your manager and leadership development programs, as part of ERG learning materials, and in the flow of work for hiring team training and before performance reviews. Joan C. Williams' book, Bias Interrupted, is available now.Microlesson Features
- Employee sentiment pulsing questions that provide leaders with insights into their workforce's core cultural competencies
- Emtrain's Expert Answers tool, enabling employeees to submit anonymous questions about sensitive issues.
- Rich, contemporary video scences illustrating key concepts through realistic scenarios
- A data driven, skill-based approach to eLearning that establishes a shared language for employees.
How to Use this Lesson
Each Emtrain microlesson blends real-world video scenarios, interactive surveys, and expert insights to build stronger workplace skills. Learners gain practical actions they can apply right away, while HR leaders see measurable insights into team behaviors. And with every training plan, you get access to all 90+ microlessons across communication, inclusion, compliance, and leadership.
Teach
Learn through real-world examples and instructional content that highlight the do’s and don’ts of workplace interactions. Employees explore key concepts, see how different situations play out, and discover practical ways to build stronger, more respectful connections.
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Discover
Go beyond training with Emtrain Intelligence. Embedded surveys capture employee experiences and provide benchmarks so you can understand how your team compares to global peers.
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Apply It - Take Action
Turn insights into action with clear steps for improving workplace habits. Learners walk away with practical guidance to apply immediately, while HR leaders gain data to support ongoing culture improvements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions that employees and managers have about this topic. These FAQs provide a preview of what you’ll learn in this microlesson and why it matters.
Q
What is the maternal wall bias in the workplace?
The maternal wall bias is when mothers are judged as less competent or less committed compared to other employees, limiting career opportunities.
Q
How does motherhood penalty impact women’s career progression?
The motherhood penalty impacts women’s career progression by reducing promotions, slowing pay increases, and reinforcing stereotypes about caregiving roles.
Q
Why are working mothers often judged differently than fathers?
Working mothers are often judged differently than fathers because of societal expectations that women prioritize family while men are rewarded for being providers.
Q
How can managers reduce bias in promotions and evaluations?
Managers can reduce bias in promotions and evaluations by using objective performance measures, challenging assumptions, and supporting flexibility without penalty.
Q
What policies support mothers while maintaining equity?
Policies that support mothers while maintaining equity include flexible schedules, parental leave, return-to-work programs, and childcare benefits accessible to all parents.
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