Moms in the Workplace: Still Discriminatin' After All These Years

Critter Corner: Mama Raccoon Is Tuckered Out

Strollerderby — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 01:02:33 GMT

I feel like Strollerderby has been too hard-hitting lately, what with taking on fundamentalist museums and writing beautiful letters to congresswomen and so on. We need some sort of diversion, a fluff piece that takes our minds off our troubles and just

re: Moms in the Workplace: Still Discriminatin' After All These Years

Karina Stabile — Wed, 30 May 2007 15:17:51 GMT

Just found your site and thought some readers may be interested in a grant for moms. I'm writing on behalf of Whirlpool brand and we're looking for moms to enter the Mother of Invention Grant. You can win up to a $20,000 grant and a trip for a business boot camp. Check out www.whirlpool.com/moms. Thanks! Karina

re: Moms in the Workplace: Still Discriminatin' After All These Years

Grammy — Tue, 15 May 2007 17:05:31 GMT

Teachers are on a salary schedule so ALL of them make just enough to make sure their kids are on free or reduced lunches. That is a crime! Teachers should make enough to support a family. I was a single parent. I started 20 years ago at $18,000. That was just barely above poverty level.

re: Moms in the Workplace: Still Discriminatin' After All These Years

RachelZ — Mon, 14 May 2007 21:03:28 GMT

I am a chronic avoider, so I decided to stay home instead of trying to work and parent and be the housewife and the triathlon support. It would be too much for me, even as awesome as I undoubtedly am.

Equal pay would be a good start. Reasonable working hours would be better, maybe with some flexibility in scheduling. My last job allowed me to work 7-3 instead of 9-5 which allowed me to get home and have a nap before dinner. Made the weekends feel longer, too!

Acknowledgement that fathers are parents too would also be a good one. In this day and age, the assumption that moms will do the majority of the childrearing is stupid. If dads were given more flexibility w/r/t time off for sick kids/school plays, etc, the stigma would be a lot less acute when pointed at moms.

re: Moms in the Workplace: Still Discriminatin' After All These Years

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:27:47 GMT

Yes I do. Join Momsrising.org and make a difference at the grassroots level!

re: Moms in the Workplace: Still Discriminatin' After All These Years

Advocate for Balance — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:09:26 GMT

I've been following (and ranting about) this topic for years. I suppose I'm less concerned about pay issues as I am about time issues. I chalk the pay issue up to Opression, not Discrimination. And personally, I choose my jobs very carefully. Not everyone has this luxury I realize.

The fact is, that I cram about 8 hrs of work into a 6 hr day every day. Moms are efficient and get it done. My childless colleagues put in more face time around the office but it doesn't guarantee more productivity.

What concerns me most is that moms (and dads too) are falling prey to the 'always on' phenomenon, where we check email outside of work hours, work at home frequently, and are always available by phone or blackberry (I will NEVER own one of these). This is a serious detraction from quality of life and quality time with the family when work creeps into the precious hours you are together. Plus, the so-called 40 hr workweek that salaries are based on is a joke in today's 'recessed' economy. Corporations make you feel like you are lucky to have that job, and if you don't want it, somebody else does. When working 50-60 hrs a week becomes a constant, that's a resourcing issue. And we can thank a government that values big business over the people.

My husband's work schedule has a huge impact over my life too. When he works late, our whole family feels the effects (and guess who absorbs all the housework??)

As far as solutions?

Being family friendly does not stop at putting in a breastfeeding lounge. Let's get our families back home by dinnertime, and give them time to be involved parents.

That would be a good start. Ok rants over. Thanks for reading.