Synopses & Reviews
Motherhood in America is at a critical juncture. As women’s roles evolve, more women than ever are in the workforce and more children than ever are raised without a stay-at-home parent. At the same time, public and private policies that affect parenting and the workplace remain largely unchanged. The result is that parents, and mothers in particular, struggle to balance the needs of their children with the demands of their jobs. Some believe that mothers should balance parenting and career. Joan Blades — cofounder of MoveOn.org and one of Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year in 2003 — and Kristin Rowe Finkbeiner dare to argue otherwise.
In The Motherhood Manifesto, the authors argue that it’s time for broad change in America’s attitude towards working mothers. In both public and private sectors, radical shifts are needed to make parenting and the workplace compatible. The Manifesto identifies and demolishes the obstacles facing working mothers today, and proposes concrete solutions.
Synopsis
Women shouldn't be discriminated against simply because they are mothers...but they are! The Motherhood Manifesto shares the heartfelt stories of mothers in America who dream of jobs with flexibility and benefits, mothers who can't afford their children's health and childcare expenses, and mothers who, time and time again, are penalized for raising a new generation. From professional women who hit the maternal wall, to childcare workers who can't afford quality care for their own children, this book captures what it means to be a mother in America today. This groundbreaking book also celebrates the successes of companies that have discovered the value of good family policies, families who are making it work, model childcare programs, and legislation that supports families.
About the Author
Joan Blades is a co-founder of moveon.org and was chosen as one of Ms. Magazines Women of the Year” in 2003 She was the cofounder with husband Wes Boyd of Berkeley Systems. She is the author of Mediate Your Divorce and co-wrote The Divorce Book. Blades lives in Northern California.
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner works as a consultant and researcher in the field of environmental policy and political strategy. She is the author of The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy and writes frequently about public policy, health and new feminism. Rowe-Finkbeiner lives in Washington.