More Advice for Working Mothers
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After seeing this about clip Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio‘s new book HAPPY AT WORK, HAPPY AT HOME: The Girl’s Guide to Being a Working Mom on the Today Show, I was filled with mixed emotions. Part of me was delighted by the fact that the book celebrates working mothers. It doesn’t offer apologies for returning to work after having a child.
The other half of me felt like not enough was discussed about the institutional sexism that requires books like this to help women be working mothers. There aren’t any books out there giving men advice about how to balance work and being a father.
Women are an excellent resource to the work world. As a society, we need to appreciate this and change our attitudes about working mothers. We need to expect more from fathers and celebrate motherhood in cubicles. “It’s a Girl” cigars should be passed out by mothers in boardrooms, not just new dads.
1caitlin
wrote on 3 October 2009 at 10:51
Thanks so much for the feedback on this and i agree about the issue of institutional sexism rampant in the workforce. i’ve asked the publisher to send you a book because i think you will see we’re on the same page on several of these issues including the fact that women need more support at home and at work.
Best,
Caitlin Friedman
co-author Happy at Work, Happy at Home
2freewomyn
wrote on 3 October 2009 at 11:47
The stats they presented about how much men with stay at home wives can earn makes me so effing angry.
3Andrea
wrote on 6 October 2009 at 16:32
Caitlin, I would love a copy of the book and I would not be surprised if we do agree on a lot of the same issues. In the current world, we do need a lot of extra support for working mothers. Thanks for providing that!
4Julie
wrote on 6 October 2009 at 17:05
I am SO glad to hear someone else echo what I’ve been saying for years. As someone who works in a field which is still extremely male-dominated, it pains me to see my female colleagues being given a hard time for needing to leave a meeting early to pick up a child, while my male colleagues are given an “aww, that’s so sweet.” Additionally, we need to institutionalize business policies which support fatherhood, such as fair and just paternity leave (and by fair and just, I mean the same as women!).
5Bradi
wrote on 1 November 2009 at 15:07
I do believe dads have stepped it up a bit, especially those with working wives, like me. Unfortunately it’s not just male dominated companies that are lacking… My last employer frowned on my when I did not call in during my maternity leave and was less than thrilled that I left one week early on disability. Just a couple of women with ice in their veins who thought selling ad space was apparently a matter of life or death. Progress needs to be made on all fronts.