Women and Work

Working mothers are in a unique situation, they are obligated to their employers to be a productive member of the team. However we also have families to take care of. I missed my daughter’s first soccer practice yesterday and I don’t think that’s fair. I was at my oldest daughter’s first practice and her first game; I went to the first swim lesson and attended many school events.  With my youngest unfortunately I have not been able to do some of these things.

Women should not have to choose between work and children, it is time for employers to understand that women are valuable employees and we also deserve to be home with our children at the hours that we see fit. It’s not fair to me or my girls to only see me for two hours a day some days even less. I experienced the same internal struggle while I was in college, I love my family and I want to spend time with them every day, even if we are in the car or they are participating in sporting events.

When I was unemployed my feminist tendencies where subdued and I was more annoyed with the traditional gender roles in my marriage. Now that I am working for a large corporation as a part-time employee with full-time hours (which is another story all together) I can see how little women mean to the corporation as a whole. I don’t think it’s on purpose but, there is an underlying culture of sexism and the notion that we are expendable. I am not willing to compromise my relationship with my children for this particular position.

I identify as mother first, and an employee second. I know that this stance is not going to get me anywhere in my working life, and there is the root of the problem. We are forced to make this choice and I know I’m just one mother, but I refuse to make that choice. If there is no way to compromise between my employer and myself then this relationship is doomed. One comment that was made to me was “your married let your husband deal with the kids” … Really? My kids love their Daddy and so do I but, I’m the mom and I hate to feel disconnected from their schooling and the day to day challenges that life brings.

Every mother should have the right to raise their children on daily basis not just on their off days or when it’s convenient for their employer.  In addition every working woman should be allowed a separate amount of “sick days” for when their children are sick. One of my kids has very bad allergies and we take every preventive measure to make sure she stays healthy. However, she still gets a sinus infection about once a month, what am I supposed to do? Leave her with my in-laws? Even though they are very supportive and would do that for us, I don’t think that’s fair to them or to my daughter. When she is sick she wants her mommy and I should be available to her.

This job and the current political climate have me really fired up about women’s rights.  Working women deserve more than what we currently have and the male dominated management staff in most jobs is only perpetuating the problem. As I have said before, we are past due for another revolution with idea’s and laws that are going to stick. I’m more than ready to “fix” these problem