In Brief: This is an open roundtable discussion on how working moms combine work and motherhood, and what are the solutions to the related common struggles. Participate in the discussion by sharing your experience, opinion or solution below. Introduction: According to Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry survey (reported by Yomiuri newspaper here), 75% of mothers in Japan work. Yet, they do 7 times more housework and childcare related chores than men (daily average of 3 hours for working women and 4 hours for housewives). Global numbers are not far behind. According to an OECD report, women around the world spend 2 to 10 times more on such unpaid work and according to The New York Times, all this unpaid labor is worth $10,900,000,000.
It's especially hard for women with small children. Many jobs don't propose flexible enough policies and environment. The created unrealistic expectations put an enormous stress on mothers, unleashes inner guilt and self-doubts that can lead to poor performance and depression, and holds women back from career advancements and personal happiness. So how do you, a working mom, do it despite everything?
I work from home and secretly breastfeed my babe during calls 😜