Only Wonder Women Need Apply: Solutions for Working Moms

Parity Podcast

Juggling work and motherhood is a bone-weary challenge unless you’re Wonder Woman. While women’s skills grow after becoming mothers, we often face biases that stall careers. The pandemic made the situation more dire but now is a golden opportunity to find solutions with the Parity Prescription.

Subscribe! Time-stamped show notes are below.

Intro

00:27 Time for gender parity increased from 100 to 135 yrs; COVID widened the gender gap, CNBC

5:23 Need workplace support; Unfinished Business by Anne Marie Slaughter

Unique Skills of Working Moms

8:29 Skills grow; Modern Family Index; Why Mothers Make Excellent Employees, DiversityQ

12:42 Skills developed as mothers

13:35 Remain calm under pressure

14:29 Improve communication skills

14:50 Hone negotiation skills

15:10 Improve creativity

Biases Against Mothers

16:19 50% believe mothers are less committed to work; Modern Family Index

17:54 Mothers MORE devoted

18:25 Won’t “half-ass” my job - kids are watching

19:08 Sleep deprived v. less interest

20:00 Moms lose opportunities

20:15 ‘She won’t have time’

20:37 “Benevolent” leaders harm careers

20:42 Fathers face bias too

21:15 Women judged for flex schedules; Modern Family Index

21:32 Motherhood biases + regular biases against women; How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women, Parity Podcast (Apple); How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women, Parity Podcast (Spotify); Unconscious Bias: Hidden Forces Undermining Women at Work

12:03 Boss not supportive

22:20 Will mother return to work?

23:44 Miscarriage, morning sickness, breast pumping at work

25:02 Common questions causing guilt

27:44 Child crying on Zoom

28:30 Opportunities given to less qualified employees; The Wage Gap is Wider for Working Mothers; The Hazard of the Motherhood Penalty

29:16 Mothers MORE ambitious; For mothers in the workplace, a year (and counting) like no other, McKinsey

30:44 Women do more housework; Mothers' Careers Are At Extraordinary Risk Right Now, Atlantic Monthly

32:01 Work culture; 8 Signposts of Cultures Where Women Thrive, Parity Podcast (Apple); 8 Signposts of Cultures Where Women Thrive, Parity Podcast (Spotify)

Impact of COVID

32:56 Job losses; OxFam International

34:10 Women overrepresented in low wage jobs; Women in Low-Wage Jobs are Underpaid and Overloaded, Atlantic Monthly

34:29 Working thru pandemic

36:22 Feeling judged; Mothers' Careers Are At Extraordinary Risk Right Now, For mothers in the workplace, a year (and counting) like no other

Solutions

37:45 Parity Prescription helps; How the Parity Prescription Can Work for You

38:29 Recognize Unconscious Bias; How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women, Parity Podcast (Apple); How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women, Parity Podcast (Spotify); Unconscious Bias: Hidden Forces Undermining Women at Work

39:29 Focus on skills

40:51 Partner with Allies; How Male Allies Can Lean In for Measurable Gains to Achieve Parity, Parity Podcast (Apple); How Male Allies Can Lean In for Measurable Gains to Achieve Parity, Parity Podcast (Spotify)

41:15 Allies at home

44:15 Allies at work

49:19 Talk About the Issues; How to Have Tough Conversations at Work, Parity Prescription (Apple); How to Have Tough Conversations at Work, Parity Prescription (Spotify)

Parity in Play

51:05 Some universities not supportive of women in STEM programs; The Parent Trap: Scholars find antagonism towards motherhood dissuades women from pursuing academic science careers, UC Santa Barbara, July 15, 2021

Where You Can Find Us

Website: www.par-ity.com

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn

Co-Hosts: Deborah Pollack-Milgate and Cathy Nestrick

Contributor: Dr. Nithila Peter of eiLeads

Email [e-mail] with questions or comments