Katherine de la Cruz, a full-time paralegal and mother in Arizona, is facing the challenges of managing a growing family amidst rising costs due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. With her family’s grocery bill doubling in a year and concerns about the affordability of food and childcare, de la Cruz is exploring cost-cutting measures such as reducing bills and downsizing their home.

Similarly, in Maryland, Chauntay Lawson and her husband are feeling the financial strain of escalating expenses like gas, utilities, and groceries despite having two incomes. The impact of tariffs is projected to cost the average American household $2,500 this year, particularly affecting clothing and textiles prices.

Moreover, both de la Cruz and Lawson are grappling with the persistent gender pay gap in the US workforce, with mothers earning significantly less than fathers. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research reports that in 2023, full-time working mothers earned 74 cents for every dollar paid to working fathers, exacerbating financial challenges for families.

Dr. Kate Bahn, chief economist at IWPR, emphasizes the need for policies promoting work-life balance, including paid family leave and affordable childcare, to address the motherhood penalty and the broader issue of discrimination against working mothers. The motherhood penalty, a form of bias that impacts wages and career progression, highlights the ongoing struggle faced by working mothers like Lawson in proving their dedication to both work and family responsibilities.