I was listening to the radio this morning. They were reporting on the wage gap for women. I've heard this before; women's wages are about $0.83 to a mans $1.00, plus women shoulder the majority of the child care, household management, and as the boomers age we now take care of our parents too. But there was something 'new to me', that I hadn't taken into cOnsideration until this morning. For those of us who choose to 'stay home' to raise our children, whether for a short while or a longer timeframe, we lose touch with our 'professional network'. Mothers' networks are other moms, pediatricians, play school teachers, day care providers, and kids coffee house owners. Aside from the occasional doctor visit (which lets face it, is a decidedly 'doctor-patient relationship, not as a colleague), we lose our professional contacts. Unlike our male working counter-parts, who are dealing with their work colleagues, investment advisors, accountants, and others whom they encounter through work (even company human resource personnel, and the chance networking with other professionals on commutes or lunches). No wonder women who return to the workforce after staying home with their kids face a decrease in wages or salary equal to approximately 5 years prior to their last working year! Apparently the Wiggles don't provide references, and employers aren't 'feeling' the complexities of running a multi-child household through cold and flu season as an accurate indicator of employee qualification.
What does it all mean? For me, I'm glad to have chosen to stay home with my boys, to raise my own children. I'm also glad that I've chosen to start my own business working from home. I'm grateful for the opportunity to build a business based on my efforts, earning what I deserve, without letting a hiatus from 'the professional world', nor the 'man behind the desk' dictate my salary.
