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Best wishes,
The National Association of Mothers' Centers
(NAMC)
provides programs that empower mothers, fathers and caregivers to find solutions that work for their families, their work lives and their personal lives.
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There's a big push coming from women's advocates in Washington and across the country in favor of paid family leave. Plans have been underway for months, and a carefully orchestrated campaign will soon be rolled out to publicize the FAMILY Act, explain how it works, and give people the means to push Congress for its passage. Paid leave is the norm everywhere else in the civilized world, where mothers have weeks - or even months - when a baby is born or adopted, and most fathers do too. The US version would be paid for by small contributions from both the employer and employee, about $1.50 per week each. With mid-term elections coming up in November, paid family leave could become a campaign issue, if the buzz is loud enough that candidates must address it. I'll certainly be doing my part to make that happen. You can, too. Stay tuned!
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 First A Person, Then A Parent, Then A...? |
"I was my daughter's sole caregiver long enough to know that I was ready for it to be over. That doesn't mean I regret taking paternity leave. In fact, realizing that I felt that way was one of the best things about it." A new father navigates his changing identity in the NYT parenting blog, The Motherlode.
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Is Motherhood Taking Women out of the Pipeline?
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Even though we've got the superior education, better grades, and have proved our competencies over and over, women are not working their way to the upper echelons in anything near the numbers they start. My theory is that our disregard for caregiving, our failure to harmonize the worlds of work and home, and the myriad subtle instances of persistent gender discrimination effectively marginalize many educated, talented moms. What's your answer to Vitamin W's question, "Where do the women go?"
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| Gender Makes a Difference...In Parenthood |
 If you really want to get to understand why women earn less than men, my friend and colleague Sarah Jane Glynn at the Center for American Progress spells it all out in Explaining the Gender Wage Gap. My least favorite part of the truth: The unfortunate truth is that mothers are perceived as less dedicated employees after having children because many employers think mothers will be distracted by their home lives. At the same time, men tend to receive pay increases after becoming fathers, in part because fathers are assumed to be the breadwinners for their families even though most married men have working partners. |
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Your Gift Makes a Difference for Families Mothers' Centers have helped thousands of families: - Make friends
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- Advocate for our children's needs
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- And so much more!
Please consider making a tax-deductable donation to the National Association of Mothers' Centers today. Thank you for making a difference! |
Summer's comin'. You'll need a good read. At the moment, I'm engrossed in
