Years ago, being a woman, mother and professional at the same time seemed like an impossible idea. Fortunately, this is no longer the case today. Being a mother is now compatible with having a prosperous and fulfilling professional career.
In the context of Mother's Day, it is important to assess how the world of work is evolving, as well as to recognize how mothers are adapting to achieve a balance between both worlds.
The outlook for mothers at work
To understand the role that mothers currently occupy in the world of work, it is important to take a look at the context. This will allow us to better understand the panorama and the challenges that this market poses.
Next, we will evaluate how progress has been made, and at the same time, the new obstacles that have arisen.
More mothers in executive positions
The first major development we have korea telegram data seen in the labour market is the increase in the number of mothers in management positions.
Such is the case of Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle, one of the most important technology companies in the world. Another great example is María Eugenia Escobedo, CEO of BMW Mexico. She has shown that it is possible to be a mother and hold management positions at the same time.
It is important to note that we are only halfway there. According to data from El Economista , only 20% of direct positions in the world are held by women. Although of course, the gap is getting smaller and smaller every day.
The double burden syndrome
Although being a mother is no longer a burden, it is a challenge. We see this with the emergence of phenomena such as double burden syndrome. This syndrome basically refers to the double work and family burden that falls on women.
In addition to having to fulfill their jobs, women still have to fulfill their maternal, family and domestic responsibilities. This means a double burden between home and office, which translates into a lot of work.
Just look at the study conducted by LeanIn.org . The research reveals that 31% of women surveyed believe they cannot handle so much work . This is because they have a full-time job while being mothers.
Even the consulting firm McKinsey has highlighted the risks of double burden syndrome. If this is not properly addressed, it can be a major obstacle to being a mother and working. Let us know in the comments if you would like us to go into more detail in another article about how to counteract this syndrome.
Mother living with her daughter while working
Main soft skills that a mother develops
One of the keys to success in becoming a mother and a professional is soft skills . Believe it or not, the qualities of mothers applied at home are very useful in the working world.
According to experts, these are the main skills they develop:
Leadership
A mother should not only be able to lead her children or her family, but also her co-workers. Being a good leader allows her to achieve her goals with greater efficiency and less friction .
In this way, a mother can reduce the effort and demand for time and resources in her tasks. In addition, by being a leader she can inspire more women to excel.
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Empathy
Another of the qualities that mothers have that is most useful in the workplace is empathy. When a person is empathetic, they are able to connect with other people, understand them, and act accordingly, thereby achieving a win-win situation.
This is one of the most valued soft skills today because of the vision it provides. It also allows you to see beyond the obvious, which helps create better solutions. As if that were not enough, empathy strengthens leadership and makes people more human .
Multitasking
It is a fact that to be a mother and a professional you have to be a Wonder Woman, because a mother has to solve many problems and carry other responsibilities at the same time.
That's where multitasking comes in. While there are some anti-multitasking fans, it can actually be very helpful. In fact, it's scientifically proven that women are better at multitasking than men .