Mommy Track
Encyclopedia
Mommy track is a career path determined by work arrangements offering mothers certain benefits, such as flexible hours but usually providing them with fewer opportunities for advancement. The term can also be applied to fathers who do not take their work very seriously -- e.g., Keith.
This is a source of considerable political and social discussion. The two main points of view can be described as thus:
1) Women are discriminated against for choosing to have children and society
should force private enterprises to make allowances for childbearing. These typically include job protection, wage protection, child care, time off for birth
ing and pregnancy
, and increased medical coverage. Many also believe that the burden of childcare should be shared between mother and father and appropriate allowances should be shared between the two partners. Many people with this opinion believe that the term "Mommy track" is inappropriate and only serves to propagate stereotypes and discrimination.
2) Having children is a lifestyle choice as birth control and family planning
are fully controllable by individuals. Nor should businesses be forced to pay wage
s and salaries to those that haven't earned them by putting forth the time and effort that others have done. Also, such desired benefits
are an undue burden on companies with insufficient revenue to fully implement them, nor is it prudent for gender
politics
to be legislated to benefit the whims of a small, but vocal, lobbying
group.
In sociological terms the "mommy track" is the action of employers discouraging women from goals in the work force due to the responsibilities of being a mother (Curiel 2008, Chuck N. Brandon P.)
This is a source of considerable political and social discussion. The two main points of view can be described as thus:
1) Women are discriminated against for choosing to have children and society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
should force private enterprises to make allowances for childbearing. These typically include job protection, wage protection, child care, time off for birth
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
ing and pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, and increased medical coverage. Many also believe that the burden of childcare should be shared between mother and father and appropriate allowances should be shared between the two partners. Many people with this opinion believe that the term "Mommy track" is inappropriate and only serves to propagate stereotypes and discrimination.
2) Having children is a lifestyle choice as birth control and family planning
Family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
are fully controllable by individuals. Nor should businesses be forced to pay wage
Wage
A wage is a compensation, usually financial, received by workers in exchange for their labor.Compensation in terms of wages is given to workers and compensation in terms of salary is given to employees...
s and salaries to those that haven't earned them by putting forth the time and effort that others have done. Also, such desired benefits
Employee benefit
Employee benefits and benefits in kind are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries...
are an undue burden on companies with insufficient revenue to fully implement them, nor is it prudent for gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
to be legislated to benefit the whims of a small, but vocal, lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
group.
In sociological terms the "mommy track" is the action of employers discouraging women from goals in the work force due to the responsibilities of being a mother (Curiel 2008, Chuck N. Brandon P.)