Being a mom Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
“Take motherhood: nobody ever thought of putting it on a moral pedestal until some brash feminists pointed out, about a century ago, that the pay is lousy and the career ladder nonexistent.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Nickel and Dimed (2001) – Social commentary
Motherhood is often ignored in moral discussions, yet it suffers from low pay and limited career advancement.
In simple terms: Motherhood lacks moral elevation and fair compensation.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for equitable treatment of mothers.
Themes
gender inequality
workplace
motherhood
economics
Mood
critical
determined
advocacy
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- parental leave
- salary negotiations
Key Concepts
pay disparity
career barriers
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society value caregiving equally to paid work?
- What policies would best support working mothers?
A Different Perspective
Some argue motherhood is a personal choice, not a labor issue.
![“What would it mean in practice to eliminate all the 'negative people' from one's life [as demanded by motivational speaker J.P. Maroney]? It might be a good idea to separate from a chronically carping spouse, but it is not so easy to abandon the whiny toddler, the colicky infant, or the sullen…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/187/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_abandon_what-would-it-mean-in-practice-to-elimin_140275.jpg)
![“Robert Jackall’s book [ Moral Mazes ] impressed on me that corporate dress serves a far more important function than mere body covering. “Proper management of one’s external appearances,” he writes, “simply signals to one’s superiors that one is prepared to undertake other kinds of…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ead/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_attire_robert-jackall-s-book-moral-mazes-impres_186386.jpg)
