Real Mother’s Day Gifts - Education and Activism!
I had a lovely Mother’s Day yesterday, but you know what would really be meaningful? Lawmakers, leaders , and companies who actually get what it's like to be a working mother.
First, Elephant in the room. The Supreme Court is likely to overturn Roe v. Wade…taking away one of the most important life-altering choices a woman can make. Being denied abortion access not only has drastic effects on women’s health, it has long-lasting negative effects on families finances, workplaces and the economy as a whole: Overturning Roe v. Wade Could Have Devastating Health and Financial Impacts, Landmark Study Showed (Scientific American).
What can you do? Check out Esquire’s list of Funds to support by the 26 states that are most likely to enact a ban per the Guttmacher Institute. And support the groups that have never stopped this work:
Second, learn more about the realities of motherhood in this country from various perspectives.
Meeting the Challenge of Moms Double Shift (Mckinsey)
Flexibility Is The Key To Supporting Working Mothers In A Post-Pandemic Workplace (Forbes)
The State of Pay for Women in 2022 (Elpha) - nope, still not equal, especially for women of color.
Managers - the best resource is your own people! Don’t forget to ask your direct reports what they’re going through right now.
Third, support these organizations that educate, empower and help mothers get back into the workforce:
The Mom Project - we’re committed to helping women remain active in the workforce in every stage of their journey, and we’re proud to work with employers who are committed to designing and supporting a better workplace.
Marshall Plan for Moms - We need a Marshall Plan for Moms—a historic investment in women’s economic recovery and empowerment.
Mindr - Building belonging in the world's leading workplaces.
Celebrating mother’s and women who care for others should not just be one day a year, it should be everyday.
Let’s keep fighting forward for the Future of Work, one that embraces and makes space for women's realities, not sliding back into our harmful past.