A few months ago, I wrote an article for OMC about the Web site MomsRising.org, started by the women who founded MoveOn.org. Since then, they have sent me regular e-mails with staggering statistics that have really made me stop and think. I've never been an overtly political person, but this site has changed my outlook. I feel moved to do something more than nod, raise a fist in solidarity and continue on my merry way.
For instance, according to MomsRising, "Non-mothers earn 10 percent less than their male counterparts; but mothers earn 27 percent less; and single mothers earn between 44 percent and 34 percent less."
I can understand how this happens. Even though everyone has a mother -- and every human at one point in their childhood was sick and needed their mom's care -- we moms still feel guilty for missed work to care for our children.
MomsRising.org also addressed the "Mommy Wars" issue, which basically states that the media pits moms against each other to distract from oppressive issues. I see this all the time: stay-at-home vs. working moms; vaccinating moms vs. non-vaccinating moms; breastfeeding moms vs. non-breastfeeding moms; etc. Instead of rallying together, we are concentrating on these minor differences, not only because the media encourages us to, but because we so deeply question our ability to parent successfully that the only way we can feel okay about our method is to criticize someone else's.
"It's time to move beyond the false rhetoric of the Mommy Wars and to report on real issues ... simplistic "us vs. them" rhetoric does not reflect our experiences, nor does it reflect the pressing needs that we mothers in America do have. The Mommy Wars promote ill will where we should be fostering connections. The truth is there are no sides.
It's time for the media to focus on the real problems that average Americans face every day. How about some in-depth feature coverage that explores solutions which benefit us all for a change?
There's a long list of uncovered topics that need to be daylighted in the media. For example, the fact that we spend more per person for health care in the U.S. than any other nation in the world, yet rank a low 37th for our mortality rate of children under 5 years old, and are the only Western nation without a national health program is rarely covered. Another uncovered topic is that investing in quality pre-K programs would ultimately save taxpayer money, while also really benefitting the children that are served. Not to overlook the fact that our lack of paid family leave contributes to the dismal statistic of child mortality mentioned above. Paid family leave has been linked to lower infant mortality rates, and yet the U.S. is one of only four countries, out of 168 studied, that doesn't provide some form of paid leave to new moms."
Whoa.
For instance, according to MomsRising, "Non-mothers earn 10 percent less than their male counterparts; but mothers earn 27 percent less; and single mothers earn between 44 percent and 34 percent less."
I can understand how this happens. Even though everyone has a mother -- and every human at one point in their childhood was sick and needed their mom's care -- we moms still feel guilty for missed work to care for our children.
MomsRising.org also addressed the "Mommy Wars" issue, which basically states that the media pits moms against each other to distract from oppressive issues. I see this all the time: stay-at-home vs. working moms; vaccinating moms vs. non-vaccinating moms; breastfeeding moms vs. non-breastfeeding moms; etc. Instead of rallying together, we are concentrating on these minor differences, not only because the media encourages us to, but because we so deeply question our ability to parent successfully that the only way we can feel okay about our method is to criticize someone else's.
Meanwhile, the pay scale tips further away from us.
Here's more of what MomsRising has to say about this issue:"It's time to move beyond the false rhetoric of the Mommy Wars and to report on real issues ... simplistic "us vs. them" rhetoric does not reflect our experiences, nor does it reflect the pressing needs that we mothers in America do have. The Mommy Wars promote ill will where we should be fostering connections. The truth is there are no sides.
It's time for the media to focus on the real problems that average Americans face every day. How about some in-depth feature coverage that explores solutions which benefit us all for a change?
There's a long list of uncovered topics that need to be daylighted in the media. For example, the fact that we spend more per person for health care in the U.S. than any other nation in the world, yet rank a low 37th for our mortality rate of children under 5 years old, and are the only Western nation without a national health program is rarely covered. Another uncovered topic is that investing in quality pre-K programs would ultimately save taxpayer money, while also really benefitting the children that are served. Not to overlook the fact that our lack of paid family leave contributes to the dismal statistic of child mortality mentioned above. Paid family leave has been linked to lower infant mortality rates, and yet the U.S. is one of only four countries, out of 168 studied, that doesn't provide some form of paid leave to new moms."
Whoa.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
