All Mothers Are Working Mothers. The Only Difference is That Some Are Paid For Their Labor.
March 12th is the fifth annual National Working Mothers Day, a holiday created by the Working Moms of Milwaukee group to recognize the hard work that women perform both in and out of the household. This day also acknowledges that, while it may be challenging, women are capable of balancing both successful careers and commitment to their families.
From a young age, my mom demonstrated the power of resilience and hard work in any and all pursuits. While she prioritized family above all else, as a single mother, she knew she must work to give us the best life possible.
My mother’s involvement in the workforce was not uncommon. Unlike centuries prior, women are much more likely to work outside the household after having children. According to data from the Bureau of Labor’s 2022 Report on the Employment Characteristics of Families, the labor force participation rate for all mothers with children under age 18 was 72.9%, with higher percentages of moms with children over age 6 working.
Despite her work responsibilities, my mother never missed one of my sports games, musical performances, or school award ceremonies. There was no question whether she would stay home with me when I was sick, or take me to any appointments I needed. Looking back, I am in awe that she made these sacrifices for me. But I also know that, if I asked her, she would never consider these actions sacrifices. To her, her job as a mother came first, and all else was second.
Not every mother has this opportunity. Many women do not have the same flexibility in the workplace or fear repercussions to their career advancement. About 23% of working moms say they have turned down a promotion because they were balancing work and parenting responsibilities, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Women also are unequally burdened with the unpaid tasks of cleaning, cooking, and childcare, even when they have spousal support. Their work does not end after their 40 hours in the office— when they return home, they are still on the clock.
This is even true for the writing legend, Joan Didion— a working mother herself. In her 2023 biography, The World According to Joan Didion, author Evelyn McDonald writes that photographers took interest in depicting Joan with her only daughter, Quintana, “because working mothers must always prove their concomitant commitment to their parenting duties.” While she strove to be the best mother she could be, she also loved her work and could not fathom giving it up.
Even so, the prolific writer was criticized for prioritizing her career even after she started her family. McDonald says that “most of us, even Joan, would probably agree she was a better writer than parent. The thing is, society systemically makes it hard for women to be both.” If even Joan could not find a way to balance her passion for writing with mothering, then clearly it is not easy. Knowing this, all moms must give themselves grace for not always having the perfect balance between their work and home lives.
Whether you are a mother performing paid or unpaid labor, or a caregiver of another kind, today is for you. On this National Working Mother’s Day, we applaud all women for their work both in and outside of the home. Both roles are valid and immensely important, not only to their family but to society as a whole.
Learn more about National Working Mother’s Day here.
