Being a working mother requires a lot of juggling. For mothers in the Michigan Legislature, that typically means juggling long commutes, unexpected late nights in Congress and weekend meetings with constituents, helping their kids with homework, and T-ball practice alongside nursing duties. It means achieving both.
So even though more women are running for office than ever before, there remains a huge “mother gap” in Congress. In detail, michigan advance reported this week that in the past 100 years since the first women were elected to Congress, only 27 women have become mothers of school-age children while in office.This is the same number of male MPs who are fathers of school-age children. right now.
Unfortunately, this is not surprising given that the majority of primary caregivers are still mothers. That’s been highlighted by thousands of parents suddenly working from home during the pandemic. But most families have ended up caring for their children while rushing to get work done or get through a Zoom call without their toddler squealing or toddling into frame. were mothers.
‘Mom gap’: Few mothers served as Michigan state legislators while raising children
When I first started covering the Michigan State Capitol 20 years ago, it was a decidedly male-dominated club, and the average age was probably (to be generous) around 40. After the Great Recession hit and layoffs decimated the press corps, you could count the number of female reporters on one hand (and for a while, I was the only mom).
Recently, the situation has changed significantly, and our positions are mainly held by women in their 20s. However, there is still a big momma gap in the media. And I completely understand why.
Being a reporter isn’t a 9-to-5 job, and covering politics is… tough. There are many people who don’t have children who quit journalism because it’s too difficult to achieve a good work-life balance. When you have little humans that need you to survive, it frankly becomes impossible sometimes.
My journalism career almost ended before it began, as I got pregnant with my first child shortly after getting my first real job at a newspaper in Iowa. When my husband and I were running around reporting on state budget cuts and school events while excitedly painting the nursery and stocking up on clothes for our newborn, some editors decided that I was I didn’t know that I was determined not to be so dedicated to my career. (It’s the only one that has everything).
Over the next few years, I volunteered for every assignment and tried to make a good impression on them. But having to take her daughter with her when childcare fails, as she did while covering former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean while he was campaigning in the 2004 Iowa caucuses. There was also. (He seemed attracted to my baby, but still didn’t really answer my questions about health care plans).
At the next few newspapers I worked for, I learned my lesson and didn’t even put pictures of my children on my desk. I can’t say for sure that it helped me get a better job…. But I don’t think it will hurt.
By the time I started covering the Michigan State Capitol full-time, I was a single mother with no family in Michigan. I wrote her 3-4 stories a day and also took on some freelance work so I could put a little bit into my daughter’s college fund so that when she finished her after-school program, I would still be able to take care of mine. Her day never ended. So I ended up working from home late at night and on the weekends, which my boss didn’t like and my single co-workers were also resentful of (although I’d rather spend my whole life working just to prove myself). worked hard).
And when you had to rush to your child’s winter concert because the state capitol was late, or when you realized you forgot the plates for the school birthday party and made sure you didn’t break down in the car. The mother felt a lot of guilt.
On the other hand, the only female politician I interviewed who had overcome single parenthood was a then-senator. Gretchen Whitmer, his kids are the same age as me. We sometimes had candid conversations about our struggles after sessions and committee hearings.
But many still view motherhood as a political weakness. One of my former colleagues belittled Whitmer as frivolous, telling me that she knew “if she got pregnant after getting elected, she’d never go into politics” (she didn’t sound that way). Ta) very familiar). I haven’t had any contact with him since she was sworn in as the 49th governor of Michigan and included him on the list of 2028 presidential candidates.
And who can forget 10 years ago, when Ingham County Clerk Barb Byram, who had children ages 3 and 5, came under fire for potentially running for statewide office? “But don’t the kids want their mom home?” That was the question she actually received. (You would be very surprised to hear that the reporter is a man).
The satirical site Wonkette summed up the episode with one of the world’s biggest headlines. “A woman in Michigan might run for office even though she has children, but what does that really mean?”
I’d like to think things have changed so much that women today don’t have to endure such blatant sexism, but I think we all know that’s not true. It’s fair to say that women are more open about their expectations when it comes to running for office or running after young children.
Being open about the challenges of motherhood can help other women in politics feel less alone. And working on solutions like more affordable child care and better postpartum care can help parents across the state.
So many powerful women from Michigan and states across the country were happy to share their stories with States Newsroom for our Mother’s Day series, “The Mother Load.”
There are many people who don’t have children who quit journalism because it’s too difficult to achieve a good work-life balance. When you have little humans that need you to survive, it frankly becomes impossible sometimes.
“My kids even come before work. It might not be nice for everyone to hear that,” said state Rep. Rachel Smit (R-Martin). Forward. “I don’t think I can be the best I can be at work if my priorities as a wife and mother aren’t aligned with my personal life.”
I really respect that.
When I acquired Inside Michigan Politics in 2013, I was finally able to work primarily from home and be as close to my children as I had hoped. I dropped my daughter and new stepson off at school and then picked them up. I didn’t have to miss any soccer or football games. By the time I was hired and joined the company, michigan advance Over 5 years ago, my kids were both in high school but still (somehow) wanted to be with me, so having flexibility meant everything.
Of course, not everyone is so lucky. That’s one reason mothers of young children continue to be underrepresented in both the Michigan State House and the Capitol press corps.
We know we can do better.
