DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, journalist and author Brigid Schulte provides an update on the state of discrimination against working mothers in the United States. She discusses how the gender pay gap persists, with mothers earning significantly less than fathers, and how workplace policies and culture still fail to support working parents. However, she also highlights some positive examples of companies implementing progressive parental leave policies.
Schulte emphasizes the need for public policies that support families, such as paid family leave and affordable childcare, as well as workplace culture changes that move away from the "ideal worker" notion of always being available. She also discusses the persistent imbalance in household labor and mental load between mothers and fathers.
The episode features the story of a listener named Grace, who successfully advocated for improved parental leave and breastfeeding support at her healthcare company after being inspired by Schulte's previous interview on the podcast. Grace shares the challenges she faced and the strategies she used to create positive change in her workplace.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The gender pay gap persists, with mothers earning significantly less than fathers due to societal biases and expectations.
- Workplace policies and culture in the U.S. still fail to adequately support working parents, perpetuating the challenges faced by working mothers.
- Public policies like paid family leave, affordable childcare, and flexible work arrangements are needed to address the discrimination against working mothers.
- Shifting cultural attitudes and norms around the "ideal worker" concept and the division of household labor and mental load is crucial for creating more equitable workplaces.
- Despite the challenges, there are examples of companies implementing progressive parental leave policies and individuals advocating for positive change within their workplaces.
- Collective action and advocacy by employees, particularly involving both mothers and fathers, can be effective in driving policy changes and cultural shifts within companies.
- Addressing the issues faced by working mothers requires a multi-faceted approach, involving public policy changes, workplace reforms, and societal shifts in attitudes and expectations.
- While progress has been made, there is still significant work to be done to achieve true gender equality and support for working parents in the U.S.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We need really good public policy. We need paid family and medical leave. We need people to be able to have the ability to have control over their schedules, whether it's flexible work or predictable work. We need much more investment in affordable childcare, help with elder care.“ by Brigid Schulte
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Episode Information
The Longest Shortest Time
Hillary Frank and Stitcher
11/6/19