Time for Parenting...

...because raising children is a full-time job

September 1999 Newsletter

From The Chair; Mothers feel undervalued; Educare = Daycare + Education; Back to work at 12 months; Full Time Mothers AGM and Open Meeting; "Supporting Families": the response; New members write .....; Farewell to the Family?; Your letters

Mothers feel undervalued

Women working in the home feel undervalued by the Government, and the drive to get women into paid employment has sent the wrong message to mothers whose primary responsibility is caring for their families.

This was one of the -key findings of the Cabinct Office Women's Unit during the nationwide 'Listening to Women' exercise. 'Voices' is the title of the look-alike women's magazine published by the Unit, summarising its findings.

On 6 October, amid a fanfare of publicity, Ministers for Women Baroness Jay and Tessa Jowell launched the magazine.

The reason given by Baroness Jay for the glossy format: 'one of the things we discovered in the course of this exercise was that women tend not to read editorials in broadsheet newspapers.' Hence the smiling, lip-glossed face on the cover with the by-lines 'Turning listening into action, and '100 things the government is doing for you'.

Striking a balance

Apparently the biggest concern voiced by the thousands of women who had responded to the exercise was 'striking the right balance between work and home'. One of the successes of this exercise, however, was that it reached beyond women in the workplace.

Through its postcard campaign and local 'roadshows' it heard the voices of women who are at home caring for children or the elderly, or engaged in voluntary work in the community. One of these women was FTM member Janet Forrest, who attended the Newcastle roadshow, and was one of the 12 women invited to breakfast with Tony and Cherie Blair at No. 10 Downing Street on 6 October.

Undaunted by the fact that Cherie Blair returned to work when her first child was just four months old, Janet broached the subject of full-time mothering, and how it should be recognised and valued - for example through support within the community, access to education and training facilities locally.

Janet stressed the importance of building the confidence of women wishing to take a career break for full-time mothering (although she also told Tessa Jowell that she considered mothering is a career!) Role models and mentoring were also raised; 'high fliers' in business are often praised, rather than women struggling to fill a variety of roles.

In their own words Looking at 'Voices', it is fair to say that the comments of a number of mothers at home are given space in the magazine. One of the postcard responses quoted was: 'Women who want to stay at home raising children should not be penalised. We are doing the most important job in the country instilling morals, values, discipline and education for our future.'

And in the words of the report on the roadshow in Reading: 'Until society sends those who stay at home with their kids a clear message that they're valued just as much as high earners, families (however you define them) are at risk.'

Hear, hear. But where are the policy proposals to support such women? There are plenty of column inches devoted to childcare initiatives and employee rights, and a section on the rights of those caring for the elderly or disabled. Plus the Sure Start initiative for deprived areas, and a parenting helpline. But there are no initiatives for full-time mothers.

Perhaps Tessa Jowell gave the game away when she said on Woman's Hour on the day of the launch that mothers at home weren't looking for financial support, what they did want was more respect for their choice. Cynics might point out that respect doesn't cost the Government anything.

Some press commentators - including journalist and past FTM speaker Melanie Phillips - have concluded that the words of support for mothers which emanate from No 10 Downing Street are simply not echoed next door. Chancellor Gordon Brown still adheres to the view that women should be self sufficient, a view which is tied to the feminist ideology of the sixties and seventies, that women must be 'liberated' from the home. This view ignores the fact that many mothers are forced out to work for financial reasons, and do not have the choice to leave the workplace for a period in their lives in order to ensure the welfare of their children. Respect is not enough

It is imperative that the voices of full-time mothers continue to be heard, and that the evidence gathered by 'Listening to Women' is acted upon - not just used as a 'feelgood' exercise. Help us build on the work that members like Janet have already put in, by getting in touch with the Women's Unit yourself. Pick up your copy of 'Voices' from Mothercare or British Home Stores, or contact the Unit direct. Then respond to: The Women's Unit, Cabinet Office, 2nd floor, 10 Great George Street, London SWLP 3AE Tel: 020 7273 8880 Fax: 020 7273 8813 or website www.womens-unit.gov.uk - and do copy your response to FTM at our PO Box or by e-mail.

[NB. The Women's Unit is no more - AB, 11/01]