Is Palin Good or Bad For Working Moms?

Politics

by Lamar Tyler | on September 12th, 2008 | 10 comments

Just read an article over at msnbc.com about whether Palin running for VP is good or bad for working mothers.

For most working mothers, the third day after giving birth to a new baby is still a whirlwind of joy, sleep deprivation and recovery. For Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, it also was time to go back to work.

Palin, who is now the Republican vice presidential candidate, returned to her job just a few days after giving birth last April to her fifth child, Trig, who has Down syndrome. She toted her newborn son to official events and nursed him during conference calls.

Palin’s candidacy is shining the spotlight on countless issues surrounding working women, including the sticky topic of whether having such a hard-working mom in the White House would ultimately help or hurt other working mothers fighting to find a balance between their jobs and family life.

Some are under the impression that having such a high profile working mom will help the cause while others think just the opposite and that their superiors make expect them to make a speedy recovery and get back to work 2 days after birth.

BMWK what do you think? Will she make it harder or easier for working moms? Will her actions even make a difference to what everyday working moms go through?

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

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Comments (10)

Mommyagain30 Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

As a working mom Sara Palin does not represent me. I get mad and offended when they keep trying to sell me that story. I could not imagine going back to work 2 days after giving birth, and my last one was a breeze. To me a working mom does it all and is hands on. Sara does not come across to me as hands on mom. I am sure Trig has a full time nanny, nothing against nannies because I would love to have one, but that is not my definition of a working mom. Also I could not imagine taking my 2 day old baby to a public place, my son did not go out other than the doctor until he was 2 months old and even then it was still limited contact. I dont see how she will help us, she is against womens rights. I think she needs to work more on her children and less on her political gain. That is what a mom, or should I say a good mom, does. She needs to put her family first. I think she will make it harder for us working moms. She will probably try to shorten maternity leave, and change laws under FMLA. To me she and McCain represent corporate America so I doubt she will try to make things better for us moms.
OKA Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

I'm still on the question of whether or not that's her baby!!! She went back in 3 days??? SMH!
Kit (Keep It Trill) Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

I'm convinced Palin won't be good for anyone if she gets into office. Why? She made it crystal clear in her interview with ABC's Charles Gibson yesterday that she wouldn't blink about going to war with Russia. We're talking WWIII. Her cute antics and titillating scandals have worn quite thin, and she's revealed herself to be the most potentially dangerous woman on the planet. Come read my post today. Kit (Keep It Trill)s last blog post..It's Demonic: If They Ain't Blinking, They Ain't Thinking
Nubianlocs Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

The ReaL question would be is she good for BLACK PEOPLE. And the answer is HELL NO. Is she a Black Woman? Hell No. So does She and I have anything in common besides we both have a vagina? Hell No. And for that matter is she good for America...?? Do we want her to be a VP? Nope not me and I hope that other black women are not bamboozled (which some will be) by this snake strategies.
Anna Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

It is her baby, I saw a pic of her while preggos with Trig. It is easy for her to take the baby to work . The majority of us don't have it like that. To me she has proven that she can't juggle being a working mom Her child is pregnant. I know it happens everyday but there is too much birth control out there for anyone to get pregnant. I know burth control is not 100% protection but I would rather my kids have access to it than not. My family comes first than my career. If I have to leave work for my child it is not even a dicussion. If mama is not happy than I will not be as productive. I am blessed at my job. I am the only employee and the boss's only job is to keep me happy. What ever I need I only have to ask. Palin does not represent me either. I don't have a problem with a mom working. I say find a job that fits around your childen, not vise versa. We as moms know the first thing we learn as a mother is we adapt around them, they don't adaprt around us. I know it has to be an honor to be asked (to be VP) but I wonder if she talked with her family before she dicided. It seems that she is looking out for her and not the whole picture. If she wins she will have to uproot her big family and adjust to a whole new way of living. Her kids only know Alaska, a secluded, shelterd environment. If she thinks she has kid problems now, she ain't seen nothing yet. Kids get in trouble becasue parents are not there. As VP there is alot of travel and emergencies going on somewhere in our country that she will have to stop and put out the fire where ever it may be. Mean while leaving the kids to fend for themselves. Her poor husband. History will be made no matter what party wins. I have heard that some black ppl don't want to vote for Obama because they think they are signing his death certificate. While some white ppl are not voting for him because he is black. I am proud to be a true American Woman but if McCain gets in I am migrating to Canada for the next 4 yrs until Americans wake the hell up and realize it is we who put them in office and picking the wrong one only brings sufferage.
Ruby128 Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

@Anna...very true comments...and "if she think she got kid problems now, she ain't seen nothing yet" comment made me chuckle.... I don't think Ms. Palin really gives a hoot about working moms in fact i think most of her views are unrealistic and definitely do not relate to me. I still believe her VP nomination was a underhanded ploy by McCain to get the women voters so she's trying to do her best sales pitch by throwing anything out there to see what will stick.
Anna Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

@Ruby123 she does throw everything out there. In her mind by doing this lots of ppl will take the bait. She does not realize that the average American is not one to have are intelligence insulted. Is she so dumb or her "people" that she/they forgot tactics like this only backfire. I do like her spunk and her energy. I just wish she was a democrat with morals and values. She and her spunkyness could have been a great assest. We need more youth and humor to represent The White House.
tina Friday - 12 / 09 / 2008 Reply

I don't think she'll do much to help working women anymore than Angelina Jolie does. She can afford a nanny. I bet she doesn't have to worry about getting her kid into a decent daycare. Or worrying about the rapidly rising prices of healthcare, food, gasoline, daycare, I can go on and on. Working mothers have these things to juggle and deal with in addition to parenting and providing a good homelife for their families. Sure Palin went back to work 2 days after the kid was born - but that's not an option for every woman who actually wants to spend time bonding with their child after the kid is born and recuperating. (I have a theory on how much she actually wanted her baby, and it's not very much.) I think that with Palin nothing would change to help parents to spend more time with their kids and not have to worry themselves or be forced back to work just so that they can live indoors. If anything, I think she'll make it harder because she'll be held as the gold standard of motherhood and career. You know, I lived in a European country, my hubby wouldn't have to go to work sick now just so that he can save his sick days and vacation days for when baby's born so that he can spend time bonding with her and still have some money coming in to support us. There's a reason why America lags far behind Europe in terms of quality of life and happiness - it's because we don't have time to actually enjoy time away from the daily grind and bond with family without going broke unless we're rich. tinas last blog post..God Must Really Like Me!
terry Saturday - 13 / 09 / 2008 Reply

I am a rare Black conservative and I don't fancy the idea of torturing myself so I probably won't leave many comments here but I want to say that I think the idea behind this site is wonderful. With the oft-publicized illegitimacy stats of the Black community, one might think that there are no two-parent, in tact black families. I'm glad you're setting the record straight. We are married with 6 kids. I stay home while my husband works, and I have to say that I have a hard enough time getting things at home done. I briefly had a home business and had to shelve that and will revisit it when my littlest babies are a little older. I have no idea how Ms. Palin is going to juggle 4 kids ((her oldest is an adult), especially with a special needs baby and pregnant teen thrown in for good measure. Of course, I'm sure she has access to resources the average mom can only dream about and that will help. I couldn't take on such a demanding commitment. I think my family deserves more of me than I would be able to give.
TheDad Saturday - 13 / 09 / 2008 Reply

Lots of good comments on this one. I was busy at work yesterday so I didn't get to see them all. I think most of you are on point and Terry thanks for the kind words on the site.