Children hold women back in their careers
I feel like people don’t talk about this enough, perhaps because it’s a sensitive topic.
Before I realized being childfree was even an option, I dreaded the thought of inevitably becoming a mother and having to give up my career so I could be more involved with my future kid’s life.
Even though things have changed a lot since the 50s, women still overwhelmingly bear the burden of childrearing.
Statistics show that 4 out of 5 stay at home parents are moms. Spending more time taking care of the kids means less time spent at the office and consequently not being seen as proficient, dedicated, or passionate. Hence, they get passed over for promotions and career opportunities.
There was even research that showed that the wage differences between men and women peaked during the stereotypical childbearing and childraising years (so 20s to 30s) but decreased dramatically around the time the kids are grown and out of the house (late 40s, 50s).
Makes you wonder how many brilliant women we missed out in history because they were chained to motherhood…
Netizens’ comments
- I got married and pregnant immediately after finishing my masters and became a stay at home parent. Now that I am ready to rejoin the workforce, I can’t even get an interview for a minimum wage job.
I have a degree. I have a masters degree. I was halfway through my second masters when I quit. There is such a huge gap in my resume from when I finished my studies and now that any job I would’ve normally been able to get is passing me for freshly out of college graduates. It sucks. - I am a woman. Retired. I had one child a son. I was successful when I worked. Now as a grandmother, I am fortunate that the world’s greatest daughter in law is mine. And she shines even brighter in her chosen career field. Raising 2 children with my son!
- The mental load alone is a doozy on careers. It seems in most households the men go off to work and just work. Women go to work and juggle the childcare, schedules, appointments, grocery lists, meal planning etc etc. even in households where chores are split at home the mental load more often than not falls on women. (And yes I know there are men who take this on, so don’t not all men me)