EDITORS: To arrange a telephone interview with Crittenden, contact Eilisha Dermont at (734) 998-7080 or email at: edermont@umich.edu.

ANN ARBOR—Ann Crittenden, an economics journalist and former New York Times reporter, will speak on her latest book “The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued” on Oct. 10, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Hale Auditorium in the University of Michigan Business School (701 Tappan).

Crittenden’s lecture will highlight key points from her book illustrating how mothers are disadvantaged and made dependent by a society that values child-rearing but consistently exploits those who perform it.

An author and a reporter for publications such as Fortune, Newsweek and the New York Times, Crittenden’s life changed when she gave birth to her son. “I was shocked at the lack of respect, status, and economic independence that go with being a conscientious parent,” said Crittenden.

Her book includes findings on how most human capital is created by mothers and other early teachers and care-givers. “Mothers are the most valuable producers in the entire economy. Yet what they do is not even considered work at all,” said Crittenden, adding that economic theories, like society itself, do not recognize mothers’ work.

Another focus of her book is the enormous amount of time and money a child requires. Not only are children expensive, but women lose money when they have children. She found that the typical college educated mother in America loses roughly $1 million in a lifetime earnings after having only one child.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the U-M Center for the Education of Women, the U-M Business School, U-M Family Care Resources Program, and the U-M Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

In addition to reporting, Crittenden is the author of “Killing the Sacred Cows: Bold Ideas For a New Economy, and Sanctuary: A Story of American Conscience and the Law in Collision” which was a New York Times Notable Book in 1988.

A reception immediately follows the lecture. For more information contact Eilisha Dermont at: (734) 998-7080 or email at: edermont@umich.edu

edermont@umich.eduThe Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least ValuedCenter for the Education of Womenedermont@umich.edu