Challenging Business as Usual
by DAISY THOMAS
The covid-19 pandemic has become part of our everyday conversation, and so seemingly, is an attention to the effects of this pandemic have on various groups, particularly women and mothers.
The absurdity in thinking/believing/knowing that women are critical to our economy without also considering the models in which these businesses operate keeps the burden largely on women -- the never-ending guilt trip and financial money pit of being a 2021 mom of whatever stripe, adding IT assistant/homeschooling tutor to the ever-growing roles we play or are assigned; spouse, mother, employee or employer, daughter, neighbor -- expected to balance it all with a smile on one's face, funeral potatoes baking in the oven, an overabundance of reports and spreadsheets to review for an impatient boss, while also fielding loud, rambunctious kids running through the yet-to-be-tidied house demanding snacks every 10 minutes, calls from ailing, aging parents, trying to find time for PTO volunteering, and any number of the other commitments the average working mom finds herself with -- all while making much less than her male counterpart.
According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, the annual gender wage gap is $14,067. If this wage gap were eliminated, a woman would have enough money, on average, to pay for nearly 22 months of childcare, 12 months of health insurance premiums, or two years of tuition and fees, whether for herself or her kids.
Perpetuating the same mentality and structures that were never designed for women in the first place is not how we achieve equity nor equality. Women do not nor should not need to conform to patronizing heteronormative standards to achieve success and stability. Some of what has been works, some does not, but either way including more of us in what actually creates greater work/life balance is absolutely necessary, especially given the rise of mental health injuries and illnesses.
Instead of remaining stagnant, it is time to keep progressive forward, and bring all stakeholders to the table to have some real, raw conversations on what could create expanded opportunities and options for more of us going forward, while also renewing a commitment to stabilizing Utah's family life. One such way is resisting the tendency to adhere to traditional gender roles in terms of activity, engagement, and leadership within [all] settings; invite women and girls to be involved in all aspects of the organization, depending on their individual interests, skills, and talents. In the immortal words of Mary Tyler Moore, "Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave."