By Tanya (Wall Street Services Reporter)
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article “’Mommy Track’ Without Shame,” to argue that not all professional women are alike when it comes to choosing between family and career, or a blend of both — and a woman shouldn’t be punished for choosing one over the other.
It writes, “…American women have actually established a modus vivendi. Most continue to have and raise children and, in greater numbers than ever before, to combine motherhood not just with jobs but careers—vocations in which they make long-term investments and from which they derive not only income but personal satisfaction and identity.”
Lynn Hall, founder of The Primary Dilemma, a thorough resource guide for working mothers, says it is important that working women take a strategic and meditative approach to re-engineering their careers. Hall, who worked at Solomon Brothers then had a corporate stint at Palmolive Johnson & Johnson, said she pinpointed her own career needs when she set out on the path of motherhood: 1) an employer closer to home, 2) a work environment that supported flexible schedules and 3) a position that demanded less travel.
“I found all of that,” Hall told me. “And with a crazy combination of enthusiasm and remorse, I embraced the chance to learn how to be a working mother in an environment that supported it. But it did come with the price of decelerating my career for a period of time. Fortunately, the self-awareness that I had for my dilemma enabled me to stay in the workforce instead of opting out.”
But before pinpointing your needs it is important to make a formal decision about your approach to career and family. The Primary Dilemma offers a simple framework to help you identify your method, which can help you transition to your new role with greater balance and satisfaction.
The PRIMARY DILEMMA™ identifies 5 Working-Mother Methods:
- Workable: Is typically the primary wage earner. Spends more time and energy at work than physical childcare. Her work enables her to hire someone else for assisting with childcare.
- Equalizer: Has relatively equal earning power to her partner, shares equally with a partner in the management of work commitments and childcare.
- Fully Loaded: Is a Single Parent. Solely responsible for work and family.
- Obliged: Has a majority of childcare responsibility and supplies a required second income for her family.
- Parentess: Has a majority of childcare responsibility and produces a discretionary second income for her family.
Women on Wall Street usually take on the Workable role, which goes against social norms as she likely won’t make every school play and recital. This requires taking on the traditional father role but there should be no judgment in this decision, according to Hall. Even though the woman chooses an executive, time-consuming career does not mean she loves her children any less than the traditional stay-at-home Parentess.
The reality is many Wall Street jobs require travel and long hours, and on the banking side you are at the discretion of clients, which can distract you from the structure of the household. “So women have to see what can and can’t work for them. Maybe a move to a less demanding job in sales. If they choose the Workable route, they have more latitude but have to be at peace with not physically being at home all the time.”
The WSJ writer also argues, “To retain these productive women, wise employers should offer more flexibility, including part-time arrangements.” Hall agrees that women must have this conversation with employers and clearly state their situation: “I’m on full throttle but do not slow me down.”
Research from The Primary Dilemma shows that consulting firms have launched progressive programs for working parents or women who are charged with demanding professions. For example, Booz Allen and Deloitte & Touche create flexible tracks for female employees. In addition, Goldman Sachs did an attempt to re-enter women who left workforce.
“Envision the managing director who works the 70-80 hour workweek who faces societal judgment when in fact she is a loving, committed parent but has a partner or spouse in her family who plays that traditional role,” said Hall. The importance of The Primary Dilemma is that it provides the tools for clearly defining what “The Mommy Track” means to them. And whatever they choose should come without judgment.
