THE LONG DRIVE FOR MOTHERS
Mothers & More Finishes Month-Long Grassroots Campaign
Dedicated to Mothers’ Work, Roles and Barriers
ELMHURST, IL - Mother’s Day was weeks ago, yet
Mothers & More, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of
mothers, is just now wrapping up what, for them, is a whole season. The
reason can be found in one of the recurrent comments of this year’s
annual Mother’s Day Campaign – that issues affecting mothers
cannot possibly be addressed in one day – it takes a whole month.
This year’s campaign titled “Mothers At Work” used
a construction theme to “help tear down the roadblocks and pave
the way for change.” It recognized all the work mothers do (paid
and unpaid) and explored how a mother's work is affected by the workplace,
public policy and social attitudes.
Through numerous discussions, members showed a different picture to
the one normally highlighted in the media. They showed that difficulties
balancing work and family are not a mother’s personal problem – how
can a problem shared by the vast majority of mothers be personal? They
showed that every mother does unrecognized caregiving work. They
do it willingly and lovingly – but this does not mean it should
not be valued or recognized. Most importantly, they showed that
although mothers have a wide spectrum of opinions on how to balance,
how to work, how to parent, how to think, all mothers share a camaraderie. Together
mothers are powerful. Through respectfully talking to one another,
verbalizing their issues and concerns, making each other aware of their
roadblocks, mothers have the power to create positive change on their
own behalves.
Conversations this year took place on a national interactive online
conversation board, the POWER Loop. Guests ranged from social analysts
to economists to authors to activists. Fourteen guests graced
computer screens of Mothers & More members coast to coast.
“The POWER Loop serves mothers by raising awareness of all the
issues relating to them,” says Debra Levy, Director of Advocacy
for Mothers & More. “It encourages dialogue about mothers’ experiences,
giving an avenue for exploring what mothers can do about roadblocks obstructing
their work – whether they want to tackle a huge issue with a grand
plan or do their part, no matter how small, in raising awareness of these
important concerns. Just talking with other mothers, pointing out
that there are issues to be addressed, that they’re not issues
that have to be suffered through by individuals, helps. We are all in
this together.”
In addition to participating in conversations on topics like “Valuing
All the Work Mothers Do,” “Protection Against Economic Risk,” and “Changing
the Workplace, Changing the Rules” both through the loop and through
the Mothers & More blog, mothers had the opportunity to delve deeper
into each of these sometimes overwhelming topics through ample resources. They
also had opportunities to get involved by writing letters-to-the-editor
and wearing a campaign t-shirt sporting the road sign “Mother At
Work.”
As the Mothers & More website states, “Detours, one-way streets,
off-ramps and on-ramps are all part of the real story of motherhood.” This
year’s campaign worked to debunk the notion that “…the ‘highways’ should
only be made for a certain type of vehicle: a super-charged, streamlined
sports car (the "ideal worker" - a person who can work 40+
hours a week without interruption by family or other obligations).” The
campaign drove the message home that “…most ‘vehicles’ must
make frequent stops, or go slower than the speed limit, and need access
to many more on-ramps and off-ramps than our highway system has designed.”
“Our journey towards meaningful ways of acknowledging, celebrating
and honoring all the work mothers do has been evolving for almost 20
years,” says Joanne Brundage, founder and executive director of
Mothers & More. “With each campaign, we impact how well
people really know the roads, potholes and all. Ultimately we will
eliminate misleading signs, fill in the potholes, and make the drive
better for everyone.”
Mothers & More is a national organization comprised of over 6,000
members organized in 140 chapters throughout the United States. They
address mothers’ needs as individuals and members of society, and
promote the value of all the work mothers do. For nearly 20 years, the
organization has been bringing mothers together to weather the challenges
they face, provide a network of support for one another, and advocate
on mothers’ behalves. For more information, go to www.mothersandmore.org
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Deidre Zapata
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Mothers & More
E-mail: publicrelations@mothersandmore.org
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