𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.
When women have children, they become ‘carers’ and their commitment to work is questioned. However, when men have children, they become ‘providers’ and their commitment to work is expected. But there are also women without children – women who can’t have children, don’t yet have children or chose not to have children. These women also face the motherhood penalty, albeit in a different way.
Why are mothers treated differently to fathers? What’s the real cost of being a mother? And is it possible to have a successful career and a happy family, all without guilt? I’m glad you asked. I wondered the same things, then wrote an article about it. Here’s the link if you’re curious: https://bit.ly/43Bx3yM