Extra Extra Read All About It a new study released by The Graduate Center, City University of New York, states, Dads earn way more money than men without kids! But, wait a minute what about women in business? The study reports Moms make less than Dads (surprise surprise), but also make more than childless women. Really? Hmmm...please explain..

Well, the truth is women who have children, perhaps by planning, earned much more than childless women during their years leading up to having children. Are you lost yet?

Studies like the one I am referring to only perpetuate stereotypes about men and women. Just in case the millennials haven't figured out that there are stereotypes that they will eventually fall into, case studies are released to say progress is all around us, but male and female stereotypes pretty much stay the same.

Women, ask yourself these questions:

1) Do I plan to advance in my career only until I can get pregnant and leave the workplace?

2) Do I assume that if I never get married I can make more money no matter how I perform on the job?

3) Do I expect the men in my office with children to make more money than me even though we work the same job and have the same number of children?

4) Do I believe that parenthood should be a trade off from having a well-paying job because I am a woman?

My guess is you answered with resounding NOs!

Recently, I met a lovely English woman at the Boston Children's Museum who is visiting the U.S. while her husband is working here for the year. She is a journalist in England and was on her second maternity leave. She has a little girl, 18 months old, and a son just 4 months old. England's maternity leave is 12 months. We talked about newspapers, one of my favorite subjects, and her desire to get back to work. Her career as a journalist has advanced for the past 20 years and although the profession may not pay the most she is paid at the top level.  We also talked about motherhood and the juggling of two children under the age of two. My point is this 40-year old woman with 12 months off was finding it very difficult to manage the role of full-time mother. From our discussion, I learned that her bosses saw her as a high performer and looked forward to her return. Here in the U.S. that same Mom would be dealing with two children under the age of two and a full-time job and the expectation from her bosses that she just isn't up for the job.

Why is the same scenario seen so differently in the two countries? Why are working mothers in the U.S. seen as victims and in the UK they are seen no differently than any other worker?

I believe it is because we continue to push the same sexual stereotypes from generation to generation in the U.S. It gets to the point that successful married women in business with children make sure to never mention their family situation. Why in the U.S. do we insist on labeling everything?

Marriage for men = good = long life + children = better paying job.

Marriage for women = not so good = more stress + children = even more stress = low paying job.

Two parent family = healthy kids = more successful life for all.

I hope that the next generation will debunk all these myths. The fact is determined people, male or female, will be successful at work regardless of their marital or family situtations. There is much more important information, such as knowledge of the job, confidence in self, self discipline and education just to name a few, that figure in to a worker's success or failure.

Finally, women in business must stand up to all sexual stereotypes and share their desire to be seen only for their performance on the job.