1.4 - What Moms Really Want

Stories like those of Renee and Kiki, confirm something just isn’t right about what we’re doing—or not doing—to address the needs of mothers across our nation. Some companies and states are adjusting and innovating with family friendly programs, but such programs are not the norm.12 Mothers and their families are hurting. We need to open a whole new conversation about motherhood in the twenty-first century by illuminating the universal needs of America’s mothers and spelling out concrete solutions that will provide families—whether rich, poor, or middle class—with real relief.

MOMS IN THE WORKFORCE

Mothers need jobs to support their families, and our country needs women in the workforce. According to a Harvard Business Review research report, businesses are starting to worry about talent constraints as a potential labor crunch looms: Our population is getting older, and “the number of workers aged thirty-five to forty-five is shrinking,” “immigration levels are stable,” and women are among the most well educated people in our population, comprising 58 percent of college graduates.18 Demographic trends alone point to an urgent economic need to address the needs of mothers.

Frankly, we are at a transition point in American history. While most mothers work in this country, we simply don’t have sufficient supports in place for parents and families. To suggest that mothers just need to find the proper balance between work and family is to profoundly misunderstand the issue. The truth is that our society hasn’t caught up to support the unprecedented diversity of roles modern women take on in a single day. At the heart of the matter is the need for change.

National policies and programs with proven success in other countries—like paid family leave, flexible work options, subsidized childcare and preschool, as well as healthcare coverage for all kids—are largely lacking in America. These problems are deeply interconnected and often overlap: Without paid family leave parents often have to put their infants in extremely expensive or substandard childcare facilities; families with a sick child, inadequate healthcare coverage, and no flexible work options often end up in bankruptcy (indeed illness is one of the top causes of bankruptcy).

On the up side, fixing one of these problems often has numerous positive repercussions. Family friendly workplace policies are becoming more common, drawing more attention and support because companies that do this well are thriving. These companies are thriving because they have lower employee turnover, enhanced productivity and job commitment from employees, and consequently lower recruiting and retraining costs.13 The good news is there are plenty of workplace success stories, and we can learn from these successes. Our country can change—and together we can launch the movement to see to it that it does.

To spark this deeply important motherhood revolution, we introduce our Manifesto Points, each of which is explored in the subsequent chapters. Specifically, we ask our readers to support:

  • M = Maternity/Paternity Leave: Paid family leave for all parents after a new child comes into the family.

  • O = Open Flexible Work: Give parents the ability to structure their work hours and careers in a way that allows them to meet both business and family needs. This includes flexible work hours and locations, part-time work options, as well as the ability to move in and out of the labor force to raise young children without penalties.

  • T = TV We Choose and Other After School Programs: Give families safe, educational opportunities for children after the school doors close for the day, including: Create a clear and independent universal television rating system for parents with technology that allows them to choose what is showing in their own homes; support quality educational programming for kids; increase access to, and funding for, after-school programs.

  • H = Healthcare for All Kids: Provide quality, universal healthcare to all children.

  • E = Excellent Childcare: Quality, affordable childcare should be available to all parents who need it. Childcare providers should be paid at least a living wage and healthcare benefits.

  • R = Realistic and Fair Wages: Two full-time working parents should be able to earn enough to adequately care for their family. In addition, working mothers must receive equal pay for equal work.

By tackling these interconnected problems together—rather than in isolation—we create a powerful system of support for families. No mother should have to choose between caring for her infant and feeding her children. Working together, we can improve the quality of our lives. And we can make sure our children inherit a world in which they will thrive as adults and future parents. The Motherhood Manifesto is a call to action, summoning all Americans—mothers, and all who have mothers—to start a revolution to make motherhood compatible with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.