In my experience, women simply don’t want to work the hours; even when they are given false promotions and raises to fend off lawsuits, many still work the bare minimum - and children have nothing to do with it. Those who don’t have children use their pets or parents as an excuse to keep their work to a bare minimum. A few years back, I joined the other men in following suit - and the boss can’t do a damned thing about it.
They “work at home”. Some are good about actual work, and some are not.
Starting wage influences future increases. When you come into the company in your career affects your starting wage. How much experience you already have does too.
When you are on leave, that does not count towards any promotion or advancment for a person. You are not there doing anything. This affects advancement and raises.
The women I have worked with complain more about doing normal work. I avoided giving them harder stuff or more important work because most did not want it. They wanted the perks but not the work that would get them the perks. The guys were up for more of the difficult challenges.