Recent ONS data shows that for the first time in decades the number of women leaving the workforce to look after family has increased. For women aged between 25 – 34 years old, it has increased by 12.6% in the last year. That isn’t just a glass ceiling, that’s a push off the career cliff for mothers.
What’s the common denominator between women aged between 25 – 35 ? They have young children. What do they need to be able to work?
THEY NEED AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND FLEXIBLE WORKING.
What can most of these women not access? Either of those things. So they have no choice but to leave, to give up their career and their economic independence because it doesn’t pay to work. We are furious. Absolutely livid. We’ve been telling the Government this would happen for years, and they’ve done nothing, absolutely nothing to fix the problem, in fact they’ve allowed it to get dramatically worse with childcare costs rising 16% in the last 4 years and access to part time working and flexible hours decreasing since 2020.
Slowly, but surely, we are being pushed out of the workforce and back to the kitchen sink. If you want someone to stay at home and take care of the kids, then pay us! It’s work! The hardest job there is. Otherwise, give us what we need so that it’s possible to have kids and a career.
If you’re as angry as I am, please sign up to attend March of the Mummies on 29th October in 10 cities across the Uk. This is how we organise and demand change before it’s too late & we find ourselves back in the 1950s.
