Initial Investigations
Defining some problem areas:
First-time mothers:
“While the gender pay gap has been decreasing, the pay gap related to parenthood is increasing.”
- Women are having babies in the middle of peak earning periods.
- Professional binds begin even before conception. For example women are thinking about having a baby long before conception and are also considering their current job status/pay.
- Unsubsidized childcare, a factor leading to many women dropping out of the workforce.
- Self-Confidence/priorities changing post-baby, not being addressed.
- Isolation felt and not spoken about, especially when friends and family are not physically close by proximity.
“Feels like sometimes being “just a mum” isn’t enough, even though it’s the hardest most exhausting job I have ever done!”
- A career is seen as still an important aspect of a mother's life post-birth, as it allows them to be a strong role model in their child's life as well as giving them balance and "do something for you that's your own".
GLOBAL
Women's labor force participation rate decreased 52.4% to 49.6% between 1995 - 2015.
Odds that women remain in workforce is 30% less than men.
Women in senior roles has risen at a slow rate of 3% in 5 years to a total of 24%
Businesses without any women in roles has remained static at 33% for the last 5 years.
UNITED STATES
Women remain at 46.8% of the total workforce
Women have 51.5% of management positions in the workforce
Women only take up 4% of CEO level poisitons at s&p 500 companies
61% of all mothers with children under the age of 3 are in the labor force.
On average American women's earnings decrease 4% per child.
GENDER EQUALITY
“NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES AND CHANGING THE TOOLS OF EMPOWERMENT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CHANGE AND PROGRESS ”
Gender equality in developed nations will level off within 50 years if we continue at the rate it is now.
Gender equality in non-developed nations will level off within 65 years if we continue at the rate it is now.
Women have different expectations and goals about leadership roles and benefits.
Questions arising:
- What are the expectations vs. reality of maternalism?
- What period during motherhood did you start to feel isolated, and why did you feel like that?
- How can the government support more to empower women through maternity leave to go back to work?
- What kind of support was offered to you (government, etc) and how did you find out about this?
- What does the priorities pre/post baby changing mean to you?
Abortion
“AS a woman you feel very judged to put your own mental and emotional health before a ‘child’”
- Directly post-abortion, lack of information about after care, specifically mental health.
- Lots of taboo surrounding the subject and should be discussed openly.
- Conflict about the meaning of abortion and it's relation to deeply held values or beliefs, perceived social stigma or lack of support.
- No one seeks support from family or friends, unless they are close friends who they know won't share judgement. Family seem less likely to be told.
- Trusting your body again post-abortion during sexuality intercourse.
GLOBAL
- 210 million women get pregnant each year, 1/5 (42 million) have induced abortion
Questions arising:
- How abortion effects future relationships and future self confidence.
- Emotional seismograph; defining the pain points during the entire process (decision making, post, years later).
- Maternal mental health pre and post abortion.
- What direct support system is required to ease the feeling of perceived judgement.