The 2024 presidential campaign put childless women in the spotlight. Women without children have been labeled ‘childless cat ladies’ who are selfish, have less value to society. The comments caused serious backlash from women especially on social media. Even Taylor Swift chimed in when she posted a selfie with her cat.
And though this discussion doesn’t deserve more attention at this point, it did bring up an important issue for me and that is, why women without children in the workplace aren’t treated equally to those who are mothers.
Parents first policies in the workplace can lead to unbalanced and unfair practices.
Referencing this issue, Fortune writes “Since the 1970s, being childfree — not wanting children — has slowly become more recognized as a legitimate choice. People don’t have children for other reasons as well. Many people want children and are childless because they are waiting to find the right relationship before having children. Others are in a relationship and childless due to fertility issues. Still others end up with no children after saying no to another round of IVF and adoption. Whether childfree or childless, we still have a way to go when it comes to society accepting those with no children without judgment or stigma. This lack of acceptance has played out in the workplace.”
Jennifer Merluzzi, a professor at George Washington School of business shared in a Washington Post interview. “There’s this very strong narrative that all of gender inequality is based on motherhood, and that is happening and [that] is real, but there’s this other thing that’s happening with gender expectations, regardless of whether you choose to get married or not and have kids or not.”
“Equality shouldn’t come with an asterisk that says ‘*only if you have kids’, according to Kraig Kleeman, Founder and CEO of The New Workforce, and it’s time we make every woman feel valued at work, whether her family includes children or not.”
Kleeman went on to comment, “Many companies, including some with the best intentions, tend to design programs, benefits and rewards that primarily support employees with children. And although parental support is important, this approach sometimes abandons women who have decided to build their lives without children. I think it’s time to change this and make sure every woman, regardless of her family choices, is valued and treated well at work.”
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