Joann Lublin
has worked as a journalist at the Wall Street Journal during 1971-2018. In her new book called Power Moms, Lublin analyses
how Gen-X women “tackle the daunting challenges of parenthood”
differently than baby boomers.
To do so, she conducted 86 interviews with experienced
female business executives that managed to have children and successful careers.
Her conclusion is that the success of such an endeavor lies in the support
systems mother have at their disposal. For baby boomers it was harder because
they did not have the option to work remotely, there was no technology
available to help them bring some work home and complete it while their children
were involved in other activities, nor they had access to parental leave and
help from their spouse. At the time, taking care of the baby was mainly seen as
the main duty of the mother. No wonder that many mothers have felt tremendous
guilt when having to manage and find a balance, a rhythm that worked for
themselves, their children, and their families.
Things are not easy even for the Gen-X mothers.
Some company cultures have changed and now more and more employers provide
maternity leave and support for mothers. Depending on the country you are residing there are different strategies in place, ranging from maternity leave,
paternity leave, flexible schedule, adequate pumping space, access to
reintegration plans. With all the challenges brought by the pandemic, mothers
found themselves again taking even more tasks and fulfilling more roles than
ever: they need to be 100% present for their work, for their children, for
the family. In those families that afford help, some of the tasks related to
the children and the chores can be externalized. However, for the rest of the
families, the extra amount of work had to be shared between the two parents.
If you want to learn how things have changed
for mothers and families during the last 30 years and how companies can find ways
to support rather than punish motherhood, Power Moms is a good book to read.
Title: Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life
Details: Joann S. Lublin. Harper Business, £20 (240p)
ISBN: 978-0-06-295490-9
Buy: https://www.joannlublin.com/
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