Child care Quote by Sheryl Sandberg
““When I wrote Lean In, some people argued that I did not spend enough time writing about the difficulties women face when they don’t have a partner. They were right. I didn’t get it. I didn’t get how hard it is to succeed at work when you are overwhelmed at home. I wrote a chapter titled “Make Your Partner a Real Partner” about the importance of couples splitting child care and housework 50/50. Now I see how insensitive and unhelpful this was to so many single moms who live with 100/0. My understanding and expectation of what a family looks like has shifted closer to reality. Since the early 1970s, the number of single mothers in the United States has nearly doubled. Today almost 30 percent of families with children are headed by a single parent—84 percent of whom are women. I””
About This Quote
The author acknowledges earlier oversight in addressing the unique challenges faced by single mothers, recognizing that gendered expectations and unequal domestic burdens hinder professional success.
In simple terms: Recognizing single mothers' hidden struggles
Key Takeaway
Inclusive narratives must reflect diverse family structures
Themes
gender equity
work‑life balance
single parenthood
family dynamics
social awareness
Mood
reflective
empathetic
critical
Type
personal anecdote
social commentary
When to use this quote
- career counseling for single parents
- policy discussions on parental leave
- diversity training in corporations
- media analysis of feminist literature
Key Concepts
domestic labor division
career advancement barriers
social expectations
Practical Applications
- revising leadership books to include single‑parent perspectives
- designing workplace support programs
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations better support employees without partners?
- What policies could reduce the 100/0 burden on single mothers?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that focusing on single‑parent challenges may dilute broader gender equity goals, but inclusive narratives strengthen overall advocacy
![“[Eric Schmidt] explained that only one criterion that mattered when picking a job- fat growth. When companies grow quickly, there are more things to do than there are people to do them. When companies grow more slowly or stop growing, there is less to do and too many people to not be doing them…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23b/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_eric-schmidt-explained-that-only-one-cri_16526.jpg)
