Mothers face many hardships in the workforce.

  According to the minds of many, the most important thing a woman could do is become a mother. And yet the society that fosters this idea does nothing to ease the immense responsibility that comes with motherhood. Working mothers especially are mistreated in the workforce.

   English teacher Mrs. Callan says, “Being a working mom is tough, especially in a profession like teaching, when you are a ‘mom’ at work too.”

   Mothers typically take on the brunt of childcare in the home, spending hours cooking, cleaning, and looking after their children. Trying to manage these with work can be exhausting. 

  Mrs. Cortright explains her experience as a working mother, “The best way I can describe being a working mom is a juggling act. Each day and week I work hard to make sure everything is getting done. At work that means that the grades are updated, the lessons planned, the emails answered and at home that means that the library books are returned, the spirit days are planned for, and the practices and games are attended. All of those little details can sometimes be hard to juggle, but it is important to me that they all — both the work and the home — are done and done well.” 

  Affordable childcare, or the lack of it, has a major effect on a mothers’ career decisions. The average cost of childcare in North Carolina is nearly $10,000. Many women are often left to choose between work or taking care of their kids. The pandemic heavily impacted childcare services, leading many to reduce their hours or shut altogether. Because of this, many parents considered leaving their jobs as they struggled to meet their work requirements while also attending to their children. 

  Parenting responsibilities can also prevent mothers from advancing in their careers. According to Pew Research Center, 23 percent of mothers reported turning down a promotion because they wouldn’t be able to balance the new workload with looking after their children.

  Jobs should be doing more to support mothers in the workplace. Whether it be benefits or accommodations or just simply understanding when a mother needs to be a mother.