What’s Wrong With Being a Working Mum?
April 2, 2009 at 5:07 pm 3 comments
A few days ago my husband and I were presented with a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity that got us both really excited! If things went our way, we could have been looking at owning our very own business in just a few months time. Sadly, it fell through, but the discussions that we had during that time were full of hopes, dreams and trouble shooting. It really got me thinking about my career once Liam is born. What the hell am I going to do with myself?
I’ve been unemployed since I got married last December. I was earning a measly $300 per week in a job that I utterly despised and it was really affecting my state of mind. So, we looked at the finances and decided that we could afford living off just the one income. I’ve enjoyed the time off, but I was getting stagnant. I don’t think being a stay at home mum is the right choice for me. I could feel my mind turning to mush and so instead of readying myself mentally for the arrival of my little man, I’ve been throwing myself into projects like this blog or creating websites for friends.
When I read about how Labor are hell-bent on screwing over working mothers I swear I blew a fuse. Why on earth is our government trying to dissuade women from working? Labor’s genius plan is to cut back on what they’ve coined “middle class welfare” and are targeting schemes such as the child care rebates, the baby bonus and the Medicare Safety Net. Combine child care rebate cuts with the plan announced last week that would see childcare costs soar and you begin to see a grim picture.
If this was means tested around the $150,000 mark, which is simply two average professional wages, there would be little incentive for a woman to actually work. Say she earned $60,000 and had two children in full-time daycare of about $80 per day. Without any form of rebate, full time child care for two children would cost $38, 400. Add to that a tax bill of $12,600 and essentially a woman would be working for the grand sum of $9,000 a year or $173 a week.
Wow. So much for my idea of going back to work to better our financial situation. I would get more if I stayed home and bludged off the Family Tax Benefits. I guess that leaves me juggling a child and a business from home. I could do cash jobs or something I guess. Its like Labor think women should be at home popping out babies and making sure dinner is on the table once their hard working hubby gets home. To hell with that! Someone really needs to tell Mr Rudd that the year is 2009 and not 1960.
(For the record, I have no issue with those who choose to stay at home with their children. My inner feminist just gets so MAD when women are undervalued in the workplace simply because we have a uterus. Rant over.)
Entry filed under: Modern Parenting. Tags: budget 2009, childcare, feminism, income, Labor, money, motherhood, rant, sexism, work.
1.
Paula | April 2, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Whilst I totally agree with most of the points you’ve made, I ponder whether the reason it is “favoured” to be a SAHM (stay at home mum) is because the majority of women do choose to stay at home and be primary caregiver to their child/ren.
I do not know actual stats on how many women choose to go back to the workforce after giving birth compared with those who stay at home for X amount of time, but my feeling is that many more choose to stay at home. In which case, this is where the childcare tax rebates, tax benefits etc DO work out well.
However, I totally agree that if you are a mother who chooses to go back to work, it’d hardly be worth it. This is where I think it’s wrong to essentially discriminate against a mother who is wanting to earn an income and contribute to the day to day costs of raising a family.
In the end, it is good that a mother does have the right to choose what she’d rather do. That there are the options of going back to work with the help of childcare centres (with rebates). But there is also the support for those that don’t want to leave their child in full-time care and thus receive their own benefits for this choice.
In answer to your question, I don’t think there is ANYTHING wrong with being a working mum and the government should respect that. But as with most things, life is rarely fair or just. We just do the best we can with the options we have.
2.
teaspoontimes | April 3, 2009 at 7:13 am
You know, if only everybody knew the truth about how much power even small ideas have to change our circumstances, especially during a recession!
http://thesmallidea.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/small_idea/
3. Follow Up: What’s Wrong With Being a Working Mum? « Raising Liam - Navigating the Minefield That is Modern Day Parenting | April 26, 2009 at 5:30 pm
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