Women suffer a "devastating" impact on their pay after having children, a new study has found.
Research for the Fawcett Society campaign group showed that childbirth marked the start of a "great divide" on earnings, which continued even after children left home.
Before becoming parents, men and women were equally likely to be employed but, after having children, 57% of mothers of under fives were in paid work, compared
with 90% of fathers.
Mothers working full time suffered a pay "penalty", while pregnant women were vulnerable to discrimination, according to the report.
Dr Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society, said: "The choice of whether and when to return to employment is, of course, a very personal one.
"However, it is critical that those mothers who choose or need to be in paid work should be able to do so without suffering a pay penalty."
The Fawcett Society campaigns for equality between women and men in the UK on pay, pensions, poverty, justice and politics.
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