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| Me with my baby on maternity leave |
"And sometimes, someone, usually mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result. And that's not a choice we want Americans to make." President Obama
Our President has been on the attack from certain stay-at-home moms. These women have taken issue with the above statement he made at a recent rally in Rhode Island. In all fairness, I think that the statement is awkward and would have been more effective had it included a couple more words. The last sentence should have been, "And that's not a choice we want Americans to have to make." Adding those two words would have clarified what I believe was the President's intent and is more consistent with some of his prior statements.
For clarity, I support the President. I have volunteered for his two campaigns and attended both inaugurations. But that is besides the point, Regardless, of my support of the President, the criticism of his statement are overblown. He did not say, "being a stay-at-home mom is not a choice that we want Americans to make." Still, that has become the sound bite that has been heard around the world.
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| Me and my kids in Pittsburgh at the river |
Supporting Working Moms Does Not Mean Insulting Stay-At-Home Moms
The statement itself, even without my correction, says that President Obama does not believe that we want any American to make a temporary choice that results in a lifetime of reduced earning potential. For some reason our country has accepted this inequity and have not responded with changes in legislation or policy. The reality is
women earn 59% of all higher education degrees and are the only member of society who can bear children. And we are lagging behind other developed nations having pro-family policies. It is shameful. Arguably, it is a contributing factor to our struggling economy and our failure to elect a female president.
These are problems that all women are should be united in fixing and they should not be political issues.
That said, I am not naive. I understand that Election Day was last week so even saying "hello" was political. I even understand that President Obama is struggling for popularity and people are capitalizing on that. If the criticism is simply political rhetoric, I don't like it, but I do understand. The problem is, I think the discussion is bigger than politics. It has become personal.
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| The kids and I at University of South Carolina School of Law |
Working Moms Love Their Kids As Much As Anybody
The bloggers who have criticized the President have framed this issue in a really disturbing way. They have suggested that being a champion for equality in the workforce and the home is a
de facto criticism of stay-at-home moms. They have suggested that stay-at-home moms are more moral, more feminine and love their kids more than women who work. They have portrayed working mothers as selfish, materialistic money grubbers who have their values out of whack. And have suggested that any husband who would have the mother of his children work isn't much of a man.
Talk about judgmental!
On a micro level or personal note, the articles have pissed me off! I am the mother of two young children and I take issue with anybody who suggests that I don't love them because I work. I admit that working and mothering can be hard on the entire family. I will also admit that when you first return to work after maternity leave leaving your baby in the care of someone else feels very unnatural. However, I think that we should work to make Corporate America more accommodating to working mothers and pass legislation requiring paid maternity leave. By supporting women in the workforce we will be able to determine whether those who are staying home are doing so by choice or because the workplace is intolerant to mothers. I also believe that we should create governmental policies that support working families like they have in other countries.
Supporting Working Moms Is Good for All Women
On a macro level, if these beliefs become mainstream the workplace will become even more hostile to working mothers. Employers will also feel justified in discriminating against women who opt out temporarily. Last year the New York Times did a fairly compelling article about the economic, social and personal sacrifices made by
women who opt out of the workforce. The women portrayed in the article are real and not fabricated. They discuss how they deeply regret their decision to opt out of the workforce and the price they paid personally and the cost to their marriages. The article was not political instead, it was an honest portrayal of their experiences.
The critics have not responded to these women who faced economic hardship and career derailment for opting out, instead they act as if fighting for gender equality in the workplace is an attack on their personal choice. As if policies can afford to be that narrow. As a working mom, I want this country to value gender equality like it values the flag whether I remain in the workforce or take some time off. And more than wanting it for me, I want it for my daughter and her friends.
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| The family at my daughter's birthday's day party |
Here's an excerpt from a prior blog post of that reflects my beliefs:
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