Parenting
by Lila Harper
Updated: May 5, 2020
Originally Published: Oct. 17, 2014
Let’s cut through the corporate jargon and get to the point: Tech companies’ initiatives to fund egg freezing for women aren’t primarily about empowering families. Instead, they’re focused on polishing their image, which has taken a beating for not being particularly welcoming to women. For those outside of Silicon Valley, this seems like just another layer of systemic inequality in the workplace, especially when viewed through an economic lens.
The narrative surrounding Facebook and Apple’s egg-freezing benefits often dwells on the myth of female ambition, suggesting that these perks simply allow women to postpone motherhood indefinitely. (The implication is clear: You don’t want to start a family; you want to keep working for us. Cue the villainous laughter.) However, many women recognize this for what it is. My own decision to delay parenthood was less about ambition and more about the practical challenges of raising children alone.
The idea that women are solely waiting for a promotion before starting a family is a misconception. Moreover, once a woman reaches that high position, would she really want to relinquish it to focus on motherhood? — Jenna Foster, author of Modern Motherhood: Finding Balance in a Busy World.
Beyond debunking myths, what’s glaringly absent from the half-hearted support offered to working mothers is the need for reliable childcare.
Let’s give credit where it’s due: Facebook and similar companies deserve recognition for providing paid maternity and paternity leave. That’s a commendable step forward. But once a child enters the world and begins to babble, what happens to the parent trying to return to their job?
The gap between potential parenting and actual parenting is vast. For most mothers, re-entering the workforce means finding someone else to care for their child. Despite this being a common necessity—over 40% of working families rely on non-family members for childcare—recent tragedies have highlighted the dangers of the poorly regulated childcare industry.
During my years covering the intersection of finance and parenting, I’ve encountered many who struggle with the harsh reality of returning to work. If the entirety of your paycheck goes towards childcare, is it really worth it? (Often it is, as staying employed keeps your skills sharp and can be a source of happiness.) Sure, tech employees likely have access to high-quality childcare—expenses comparable to private school tuition in some regions—but prioritizing funding for egg freezing over actual childcare is indicative of a larger issue regarding support for working mothers in this country.
Consider Dress for Success, a large nonprofit dedicated to helping women in the workplace. Assisting over 70,000 women annually, the organization has expanded from providing professional attire for interviews to offering coaching and financial education (full disclosure: I support this initiative and serve as an advisor). Many mothers in their programs find stable employment with benefits, only to face setbacks when their children fall ill or they lack someone to care for them when schools close for development days. This often results in job loss for mothers who are already struggling. Unfortunately, childcare is the missing link that organizations like Dress for Success cannot yet provide, although they advocate for better employer solutions.
All the effort women put into securing jobs and achieving financial stability can be undone by the lack of childcare—leading some families back to square one or even further behind.
So tell us, Facebook, if you’re able to offer perks like dog daycare and spa services, and genuinely want women to thrive, where is the childcare support?
Perhaps the allure of biotech is that eggs are seen as just that—science experiments waiting to happen—without the messy complications of diaper changes and vaccination schedules. Additionally, egg freezing is a much lower financial burden (around $20,000) than providing comprehensive on-site childcare. But the realities of motherhood seem less appealing to PR departments, even though, like providing free meals and relaxation pods, childcare would significantly enhance employee satisfaction and improve the lives of working families.
If you’re looking for more information on home insemination, check out our post about the home insemination kit to help you navigate your journey. For a deeper dive into the world of self-insemination, consider the Cryobaby Home IntraCervical Insemination Syringe Kit Combo, which is an excellent resource on this topic. And for reliable information about pregnancy, visit the CDC’s resources on the subject.
In summary, while tech companies may tout egg freezing as a progressive step for women, what’s truly needed is tangible support for parents—specifically, accessible childcare. Until that gap is addressed, the message remains loud and clear: the commitment to motherhood still takes a backseat to corporate interests.
Keyphrase: childcare support for working mothers
Tags: “home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”