Women, Motherhood, and "Juggling it All"

The importance of professional support within the workplace is paramount for success, particularly for women, as I have mentioned. However, the need for support when it comes to other aspects of life that impact a woman’s work are just as important. Women are often expected to do everything, have a job, care for their families, keep a perfect house, and make an America’s Top Chef worthy dinner for their Mother-in-Law should she decide to come for dinner. This is an archaic gender stereotype. The expectation that women are to manage all domestic responsibilities and work full time is enough to instill panic in any aspiring female professional. According to Lean In, “In the last thirty years women have made more progress in the workforce than in the home. According to the most recent analysis, when a husband and wife both are employed full-time, the mother does 40% more housework than the father. A 2009 survey found that only 9% of people in dual-earner marriages said they shared housework, child care, and breadwinning evenly” (Sandberg, pg. 107).

     In order to support the advancement and success of women within the business world, small and large organizations need to create an open relationship between themselves and their employees who are parents. Parenting affects both men and women, and most efforts, and questions regarding balancing the roles of parent and profession mainly fall on women. According to Tina Fey, “What is the rudest question you can ask a woman? ‘How old are you?’ ‘What do you weigh?’…No, the worst question is ‘How do you juggle it all?’…People constantly ask me, with an accusatory look in their eyes. ‘You’re fucking it all up, aren’t you?’ their eyes say” (Fey, pg. 256).  As a comedienne, Fey offers a blunt and honest look at how media treats women who desire to excel within the workplace, and also remain present within their families. In her opening words of Bossypants, “If you are a woman and you bought this book for practical tips for how to make it in a male-dominated workplace, here they are. No pigtails, no tube tops. Cry sparingly. (Some people say “Never let them see you cry.” I say, if you’re so mad you could just cry, then cry, it terrifies everyone.) When choosing sexual partners, remember: Talent is not sexually transmittable. Also, don’t eat diet foods in meetings” (Fey, pg. 3).

     Though her remarks regarding women may seem ironic, quirky, or hilarious to some there is a deeper truth to her words. Men aren’t asked about how they manage to juggle their personal and professional responsibilities in the public sphere, “Employed mothers and fathers both struggle

with multiple responsibilities, but mothers also have to endure the rude questions and accusatory looks that remind us that we’re shortchanging both our jobs and our children” (Sandberg, pg. 123).