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The Future of Women at Work
Are We Moving Forwards or Backwards in Our Careers and Society?
Over 3 million U.S. women left the workforce in 2020, reported CBS News in early 2021. The pandemic was tougher on women than men. Lack of childcare, lack of flexibility, lower wages than our spouses, and traditional childcare roles falling squarely on the mother — the cards are stacked against us.
For most women who choose motherhood, the birth of your child is the happiest day in your life. But the second thought is “How will this affect my career?”
The worries are many: When must I return to work? Who will care for the baby while I’m working? How will I juggle my demanding workload with having a family? Will my partner help me or leave it all on my shoulders? Will I lose out on promotion opportunities once I’m a mother? How am I going to afford having kids?
Women especially have to face tough choices as follows:
a) Not have kids
b) Chose between a career and kids
c) Be permanently stressed juggling both
d) Find a better way to manage this dilemma
I myself opted for solution d). I decided I couldn’t possibly give up kids nor pick between having a family or a career.
