It’s International Women’s Day and I’m going to start by addressing the elephant in the room… chaps, there is an ‘International Men’s Day’, it’s 19th November so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait your turn. Today is all about US!
So, whilst celebrating being a woman, women’s rights and all that we, as a gender, have achieved, this annual holiday also gives focus to the issues we have faced and sadly continue to face.
We all strive for gender parity. However, feminism can sometimes be considered a dirty word; but to those out there who still haven’t quite grasped that it’s not, all we’re seeking is parity, is equilibrity. We’re not advocating that we’re better, we just want to be considered equal… not much to ask, is it?
With that in mind, I’d like to consider the challenges we may face as working mums in balancing our career aspirations with family responsibilities.
I – for one – am incredibly proud to be a working mum. I consider myself to be a role model to my teenage son and hope that my work ethic and financial independence combined with the unparalleled importance of my role as a parent, inspires him, and also leads him to understand that you can achieve whatever you set your sights on in life, you just have to be prepared to work for it!
It’s not easy though, let’s face it! And I’m not just talking about feeling shattered at the end of a long day of spinning a multitude of proverbial plates! I’m referring to the challenges we – as working mums – may face in the workplace.
At this point I have to point out that I am extremely lucky! I constantly receive the support and encouragement of my directors and colleagues at Atkinson Moss and know that this is extended across the board, whatever your personal circumstances! But I acknowledge that for some women, their working life isn’t so simple.
They may face a lack of flexible working options making it impossible to accept a dream job because they are unable to accommodate school runs and childcare commitments. Plus, the high cost or lack of availability of quality childcare can be a major barrier to maintaining a stable career, impacting their ability to fully participate in the workforce.
They may also suffer from a bias against parents finding themselves victims of a stigma surrounding working parents where hiring managers may assume that family responsibilities will interfere with job performance, resulting in unconscious bias during the hiring process or promotional opportunities. This stigma can affect career progression with some women facing challenges in regaining momentum in their careers when they return to work following parental leave. Some opportunities may be limited due to a perceived “break” or gaps in employment.
Ultimately, juggling family responsibilities with professional obligations can lead to higher levels of stress, burnout, and mental health challenges. The pressure to perform at both home and work can make it difficult for mothers to thrive in their careers, or else may feel a horrific sense of completely unwarranted parental guilt (let’s fact it, we’ve all been there!)
We, as working mothers, have invaluable strengths and perspectives to offer. But to balance both our professional and family responsibilities while continuing to build our careers, need for the above challenges to be addressed in order for there to be a shift toward more inclusive, flexible, and family-friendly policies, as well as a cultural shift in workplaces to support a diverse range of workers with varying needs.
We still have some way to go but collectively can achieve equality in the workplace where all working mums will successfully and comfortably be able to balance their careers and parental responsibilities.
So, to all the working mums out there… I salute you! We got this!