32 PROFESSIONAL WOMANS MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE WWW.PROFESSIONALWOMANMAG.COM
CAREERS
I
ts the typical phrase told to every mom: The day you have your baby in your arms for the first time will be the happiest day of your life. And that is true, but in my experience, it is not the whole truth. I am four weeks away from having my third child, and I can say without any doubt that there is a bigger and better moment, a sweeter one, that hap- pens every day: picking my children up from school. Hearing their tiny voices telling the events of the day, sharing what they did and learned, asking ques- tions It is simply priceless. Unfortunately, my work schedule robbed me of these times with my first two kids; but then, the pandemic started and everything changed. My parents, both immigrants from Cuba, always instilled in me an ethic of hard work. My dad emi- grated to the United States at age 11, my mom was only five when she arrived. As with many other immigrant families, my parents started from zero and made their way into providing the best financial situ- ation for their family, but that came with a cost. Due to her work as a daycare teacher, my mom always missed my school events and, as a result of his long commute, it was impossible for my dad to attend. Therefore, when I started my own family, I promised myself not only to always give my children the best, but to always be present for their school activities. However, my work in the hospitality industry soon made it impossible to keep my promise, and I con- sidered no longer working at all. Unfortunately, I am not the only one, and this issue is not exclusive to the hospitality industry. A survey by the Pew Research Center from 2021 reveals that 27 percent of mothers with children 18 or younger said that it would be best for them to stop working. Interestingly, 80 percent of the fathers that answered the same question said that their views havent changed with the pandemic and prefer to continue with their work arrangements. More than ever, I am convinced that remote and lexible work conditions can bring happiness and unity to millions of families by helping working mothers to stay in the workforce. Personally, I think mothers want to continue working; I know that I do. Now that I am working remotely and enjoying the benefits of a flexible schedule, I understand that this is the way, but heres a lingering question: can we have it all? Throughout my career in the hospitality industry, I have witnessed the same concern among women. Its constantly worrying about losing positions and
Working Mothers,
The Unsung Heroes of the Workforce
By Ana Hernandez
being passed over for promotions due to the sim- ple fact of being a mother or even by virtue of the slightest chance of becoming one. Despite our nat- ural resilience, choosing when to work and where to work provides the freedom mothers need to succeed in life. The 2021 report Women in the Workplace by McKinsey shows that working mothers grappled with a double shift of household responsibilities, mental health challenges, a more difficult remote- work experience and concerns about higher rates of unemployment - particularly among mothers of color and single mothers. A survey among the hourly workers at Instawork, the company where I am currently employed, showed that 17 percent of cisgender female workers have identified themselves as caregivers to children or their parents. Nine per- cent of males also self-reported as taking care of a loved one. As I count the days awaiting the birth of my little one, the anticipation and excitement is palpable. We still dont know the sex but one thing I do know: I will enjoy this baby the way I didnt have the chance with my first two, thanks to flexible work schedules, and I hope other working mothers have the same chance.
Sources: Noticias Newswire, ViCon Media
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