Should We Pay Salaries To Moms Forced Out of the Workforce During the Pandemic?

By SheSpeaksTeam Mar 08, 2021

It comes as no surprise that women have left the work force in record numbers since the start of the pandemic. Family, school, work and home situations have had to change drastically over the last year, leaving many no choice but to stay home.

This is precisely why Girls Who Code CEO Reshma Saujani is calling on President Biden to implement the Marshall Plan for Moms. The name of the plan is a nod to the post World War II Marshall Plan that offered large amounts of aid to Eastern European countries to rebuild after the war.

CNN reports about the petition gaining traction, as well as signatures from many powerful people, that calls for a mom salary of $2,400 per month for “unpaid labor at home.” The plan, first proposed in January, gained a lot of attention recently when a full-page ad was published in the Washington Post calling for its implementation. The letter is signed by 50 prominent men, including actors like Don Cheadle and Colin Farrell.

Actress, author and activist Alyssa Milano has also spoken up in favor of the plan in an opinion piece published for CNN . She says that we should pay moms for making the sacrifices that had to be made to get us through this crisis. Milano also points out the other changes the plan hopes to implement which “include passing policies that support working women such as pay equity, family leave and affordable childcare; retraining programs that will help women step into emerging jobs; and safely re-opening schools to take the childcare burden off mothers.”

Women have been hit especially hard in the last year and are currently down 5.4 million jobs as opposed to men’s job losses of 4.4 million. In the times leading up to the pandemic, women were close to equal with men - holding about 50.3% of jobs in the workforce.

Saujani points out to CNN, "No woman made a choice to stay home and take of our children in this crisis, that choice was made for us. We are not America's social safety net. And as many of us have been essentially replacing paid labor for unpaid labor, and nobody asked us. They have put a zero value on our labor, and it's time to put a value on it.”

Whether or not the Marshall Plan for Moms will move forward is currently unknown, but Saujani is hopeful that moms will get what she feels they are due. When asked whether she has received word from the Biden administration regarding her plan she says, “I know Joe Biden cares about mothers. This is an issue that he cares about personally, and so I have no doubt that this administration will do the right thing and put together a Marshall Plan for mothers.”

Have you or friends and family had to leave the workforce to care for kids at home over the last year?

Do you think the Marshall Plan for Moms sounds like a good way to help families recover from job losses over the last year?

Make a Comment

Comments

by beetea | LAFAYETTE, LA

Mar 11, 2021

Just taking a quick glance at the plan, I am in favor of it. It does not seek to "pay mothers to be mothers," but to help support mothers that were forced out of the workplace by the pandemic. You can argue that there are other ways to address the issue, or even raise the question about more support for all mothers, but something needs to be done. There seems to be other parts of the plan that address changes that would benefit everyone as well. As far as the cost, if I am looking to "invest" my taxpayer money, mothers and children (I know it is simplifying it) are a pretty sound investment for the future. Much better than a lot of the other spending that happens. A perfect plan, no, but I think it is one that deserves further discussion.

by SuziSkaann | COUNCIL BLFS, IA

Mar 11, 2021

This is litterally saying that having a child should warrant a paycheck. Would you choose to have children to collect a monthly salary? I know there are people that would. Lets math, that is $28,800 annually. NO, I am not for this. Yes, this pandemic has been inconvenient for alot of us. I for one am not good at teaching, but I am doing my best. Scarfice is an understatement to be honest and putting a price on it is actually insulting, kinda. BUT I have been a full-time stay at home mother, I have been a work from home mother, and I have been a full time career mother; You adapt, your children adapt, and life goes on. The lifestyle choosen or what has been handed to us all is not something that everyone should pay for, we learn to adjust. Somehow it will need to be funded, via taxes or otherwise, which is turn is just us or our spouse, or family members, paying for our own "to be a mother" salary thru some means. There is no gain here.

by saleago | Horseheads, NY

Mar 11, 2021

No, I don't think so.

by itselainey | Aliso Viejo , CA

Mar 11, 2021

This is not fair for women who cannot have kids due to medical issues or by choice due to careers.

by tara19652006 | ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Mar 11, 2021

I am not for it as it will raise taxes. I have stayed home for 30 years. It is about living off the money you have and that may mean having one car or no fancy phones

by tara19652006 | ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Mar 11, 2021

I am not for this as who is going to pay for this? I have been a stay at home mom for 30 years and did not need the extra income as my husband worked. We made it work and lived off the money we had.

by wooabm26 | CHATTANOOGA, TN

Mar 11, 2021

I am working less because my son is virtual at home full time. However, I am choosing to stay home with him. There are resources here like the YMCA where he could go. No on is making me stay home unpaid. It sounds good, but I am making this choice and it's no ones responsibility but mine. Mothers could never get paid enough for all that we do.

by plong22 | BLAIRSVILLE, PA

Mar 11, 2021

It would be great but not sure how it would be funded.

by kimcres | Valdosta, GA

Mar 11, 2021

As a full-time parent, income would be great, but who will be paying? It's the taxpayer, which means we would lose money. No one can fund this. We've sacrificed a lot so I can raise and educate my children.

by Grammio | SANDERS, KY

Mar 10, 2021

I understand the concept, but stay-at-home moms have always provided unpaid labor. Many of them have made financial sacrifices to be home with the kids. Should they also be compensated?

by superbean | Alta Loma, CA

Mar 10, 2021

That's a ridiculous plan. Pay a woman to stay home and raise children? How about a dad? It seems the plan would keep women out of the workforce, is that the idea? Who would pay for this plan? Everyone has suffered greatly this past year. This would add another burden to those who work to pay for those that don't. Stop thinking up ways to make each job sector essential and overly important. We all have value in society and that's what makes our country strong, not each sector unto itself.

by Chris213 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Mar 10, 2021

I bet a lot of childcare providers, who get paid a whole lot less, would love to make this amount. Especially since this is their livelihood. Maybe paying childcare workers a living wage first would be a better priority.

by Zipporah6 | BROOKLYN, NY

Mar 10, 2021

Yes, some of us are single mothers trying to balance being a mom and work life and the finances are still coming up short. I believe this would help out tremendously!

by mrenda | COLUMBUS, OH

Mar 10, 2021

This sounds like a great way to help families recover.

by hyburn87566 | OCALA, FL

Mar 10, 2021

I am an unpiad family caregiver for my 91 year old dad with dementia. I think this is excellent. I don't have kids but my dad is in a child-like state due to his dementia. Family caregivers like me could use extra money to supplement income or to get paid if they do not rfeceive income.