Babies Belong in Politics

Motherhood is constantly cited as one of the myriad of ways that women are hindering their own professional progress. I'm really pleased that European Parliament member Licia Ronzulli is debunking that myth. She was not politically motivated to bring her daughter to work, but it became clear, with all of the attention she attracted that doing so was a tremendous act of rebellion. Women, specifically mothers, must often hide their motherhood at work to either be taken seriously, fit into a male-centric culture, and/or to retain pre-baby levels of responsibility and authority.

Looks like Ronzulli has absolutely no scruples about reminding the European Parliament about why they are convening together. Her baby is a powerful reminder of the future. I wonder what kinds of social policies would be more likely passed with the added presence of babies in the room?

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While it is important to recognize that men too care about their families and children, traditional gender roles preclude men from having to be the constant care-takers of their children. Men less often have to face the guilt and social stigma that women face for going to work when they have small children. After all, mommy wars are real. Women often face social criticism, stigma, and even crippling internal guilt when they choose to work. More importantly, many women do not have the economic choice to stay home with the baby. Creating baby-friendly work environments and encouraging both men and women to cultivate family-open cultures in the work place will help facilitate more inviting workplaces for women. Frankly, I think it has the potential of helping us all connect to the deeper reasons of why we do work in the world.