Inspired by the 'Career' Issue of the PR Strategist magazine

Women work, as do men. However, since the 60s and 70s women have been treading up a hill (not to sound like a feminist, because I’m not) in order to reach their professional goals. They’ve had to endure backlash of the emotional kind, dealing with sexism, making less money and having to work much harder than men in order to break through the glass ceiling.

What I see today is a culture where women, though not ENTIRELY equal (stats say we still get paid less than our equal male counterparts), we’ve come so far and are successful business women with satisfying careers. But what happens then, when a woman wants a family?

I’ve been fascinated by this topic since college, having majored in Journalism, a historically male dominated field, the question came up long before I would have even thought about wanting a family. In the time since then I haven’t found an answer that I’m comfortable with.

We live in one of the least family friendly countries in the world. Shocked? I’m not. When long work weeks are coveted by business leaders, how is a mother – or a father for that matter – going to get home to cook dinner? Bathe their child(ren), read them a bed time story, and tuck them in?

The responsibility, either by nature or by culture (I believe it’s both, whether for good or bad), of running a family and especially rearing children, gravitates toward the woman, the child bearer.

Here’s where I – and from the things I’ve read, many other women ¬¬¬¬¬– become a little anxious and confused. Women, as a gender, have been through a lot in the last 40 years and have come very far. Does this mean that we are negating any part of that movement by choosing to stay home to raise a family? Or working part time, or from home? For all that we’ve worked for in building a career in our younger years, do we then put an irremovable wrench in the gears of our professional lives by taking maternity, or extended leave? Is that fair? It’s our choice. It’s the company’s job to run a business. But why are women (as I have read) passed over for promotions because they leave ‘on time?’

Inevitably, there are many sides to this discussion and many opinions. I only hope that women stand behind their own beliefs, not those of their company, their family, or their culture. It is a matter of desire, priority, and understanding what it will take to make you happy. Whether that’s a career and no children, or a true renaissance lifestyle with the best of both career and motherhood, or dare I say, going the old fashioned way and staying home with young ones to witness every smile, gurgle, step and fall, we should all feel confident to choose happiness. After all, not even men can have it all.