How hard it is for a woman to return to the workforce after being home for 9 years
posted in Uncategorized |This email was sent to all MP’s in Canada and unfortunately we only got one response, see email below.
Women are stepping back from the career track to do the mom-and-family
thing - not because they must, but because they can
Margaret Wente speaks the truth about women and work. Unfortunately
governments and advocates don’t see it that way.
My story is a bit different from the “so called professional women” in
society today. I’m referred to as the uneducated baby machine who relies
on her husband to keep her pedicures and manicures coming. Though I’ve
never had a pedicure or a manicure in my life, most people find what I
do just above the welfare line.
Since I was little I wanted to be a mother, not a doctor or a bus driver
just a mother. I worked odd jobs over the years and attempted at a
financial career going after a trader position but when it came down to
the crunch I could not do both, so I went back to just being a mother.
Now my children are all in school. This is the dilemma, no education, no
real experience and no hopes for a pension plan beside Old Age Security
& CPP.
All because I wanted to be just a MOTHER.
http://choiceforchildcare.blogspot.com/2009/09/untold-truth-about-women-and-work.html#links
–
Thank you,
Sara Landriault
stay at home mom
*President*, National Family Childcare Association
www.careofthechild.com
www.incomesplitting.org
landriault@ripnet.com
Dear Sara,
Thank you very much for your email. It is a wonderful thing to know at such an early age what will truly bring one happiness. Many people search their entire lives for this. In Canada, it is a great privilege for many women to be able to choose to stay home and care for their children. Sadly, many women do not have this privileged choice and are forced to work to provide the basic necessities for their families. There are also many women who choose to work as well. With women in such different circumstances, it is the government’s responsibility to look after the most vulnerable in the population. The most vulnerable women are those who are forced to work in order to make ends meet. Having affordable childcare would be the first step in making sure these families do not fall below the poverty line.
I also firmly believe that women who are fortunate enough to be able to stay home and raise their children should not be left with little hope of work or pension later in life. Government supported programs to retrain women after taking time off paid work to raise children or look after elderly, ill or disabled family members should be made a priority.
Thank you again for your email.
Sincerely,
Irene Mathyssen