This paper examines whether controlling for the type of career interruption has different effects on men's and women's wages. One argument for the persistence of the gender wage gap is that previously researchers have used poor measures of experience to estimate men's and women's wages. This paper extends the career interruption literature by estimating men's and women's wages including controls for both the type and timing of interruptions. Findings show similar wage effects for men's and women's wages while controlling for the type of interruption. These results are consistent with the basic human capital model, but are inconsistent with previous empirical research.

[pt] Esta dissertação teve como objetivo compreender o processo que leva as mulheres a saírem temporariamente do mercado de trabalho, para se dedicarem exclusivamente à maternidade, culminando no seu posterior reingresso. Tendo como foco mulheres de nível superior, esta pesquisa explorou os motivos que as levaram a interromper suas carreiras; os sentimentos vividos por elas durante o período de afastamento; e seus processos de reinserção no trabalho. A metodologia de estudo aplicada foi de natureza qualitativa, contando com entrevistas semiestruturadas com 15 mulheres que deixaram suas trajetórias profissionais para cuidar dos filhos. Os resultados revelaram que as entrevistadas não estão se afastando de suas carreiras apenas para cuidar dos filhos, mas por razões mais complexas que compreendem também aspectos relacionados ao trabalho e à ausência dos maridos. Além disso, constatou-se que, durante o tempo de afastamento, elas vivenciaram experiências mistas, que envolvem crises de identidade e os prazeres de acompanhar o desenvolvimento dos filhos. No tocante aos motivos para retornar ao trabalho, o alto comprometimento profissional foi um fator mencionado por muitas delas. Quanto aos obstáculos para recolocação, foram evidenciados os parâmetros: depreciação do capital humano e falta de auto-confiança. Acerca das estratégias para volta, as mais utilizadas pelas entrevistadas foram: acionar a rede de contatos e encontrar empregos mais flexíveis. Por fim, após o regresso delas ao trabalho remunerado, observou-se que as mulheres seguem sobrecarregadas, porém, alguns recursos permitem que elas equilibrem melhor a sempre difícil relação trabalho-família. / [en] This dissertation aimed to understand the process that leads women to temporarily leave the labor market, to dedicate themselves exclusively to motherhood, culminating in their subsequent reentry. Focusing on women with higher education, this research explored the reasons that led them to interrupt their careers; the feelings experienced by them during the period of absence, and; their reintegration processes at work. The applied study methodology was a qualitative nature, with semi-structured interviews with 15 women who left their professional trajectories to take care of their children. The results revealed that the interviewees are not moving away from their careers just to care for their children, but for more complex reasons that also include aspects related to work and the absence of their husbands. Also, it was found that, during the time of absence, they had mixed experiences, which involve identity crises and the pleasures of accompanying the development of their children. Regarding the reasons for returning to work, a high professional commitment was a factor mentioned by many of them. As for the obstacles to relocation, the parameters were highlighted: depreciation of human capital and deficit of confidence. About the strategies for return, the most used by the interviewees were: activate the network of contacts and find more flexible jobs. Finally, after their return to paid work, it was observed that women remain overloaded, however, some resources allow them to better balance the always difficult work-family relationship.