Category: Press Releases

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Moms First and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Release New Report on the Cultural Portrayals of Motherhood on TV; Call on Entertainment Industry to “Rewrite Motherhood”

The survey, conducted by APCO Worldwide, found that the majority of moms dread returning to work after caregivFindings from the first-of-its-kind report show that while portrayals of motherhood on TV have improved historically, the realities of motherhood are often absent from television and reinforce harmful stereotypes

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 7, 2024) – Today, Moms First, a national non-profit fighting for the structural supports like paid leave, childcare, and equal pay that moms need to thrive, in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, released a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind report that examines the cultural portrayals of motherhood in television. The report was developed with the support of Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and The Archewell Foundation.

The report, Rewriting Motherhood: How TV Represents Moms and What We Want To See Next, examined scripted television programs from 2022 that featured mothers in the title cast. Its findings paint a nuanced landscape of motherhood with specific progress made across the industry in the depiction of more diverse moms on TV. The report also lifts up portrayals of motherhood that represent unrealistic expectations for moms in today’s society and contribute to the guilt and shame moms experience today.

The report’s topline findings include:

  • TV moms have become slightly more diverse – though there is still work to be done, as Latinx (9% of TV moms), LGBTQIA+ (6%), disabled (0%), fat (2%), and older (10%) moms are all underrepresented.
  • For TV families, when the narrative implied the breadwinner in a couple with kids under 18, it was the father 86.5% of the time, and it was the mother just 13.5% of the time. Thus, dads are significantly overrepresented and moms underrepresented as primary earners in TV homes.
  • TV moms do not seem to have the same concerns about their physical appearance or meeting cultural beauty standards as real world moms, and the work required to reach these standards is erased on television.
  • The work involved to keep a home functional and clean and the emotional load of this responsibility to do this, is largely erased on TV. Only 15% of TV parents were shown doing domestic tasks like cooking or cleaning, yet less than 10% of TV parents had a messy house.
  • The realities of childcare are largely invisible on TV. Only 20% of TV parents with kids 10 and under were shown to have any childcare.
  • Moms make everyday sacrifices for their kids, and regularly put their kids’ needs first, but these realities are often missing from moms’ TV depictions. Sacrifices were rarely shown, and when they were, more than half of the time it was big life-or-death choices (55% of the time) rather than the everyday issues that real moms actually encounter, such as staying up with a newborn, feeding kids’ playmates while also struggling with money, and making financial and career decisions that benefit their family more than themselves.

“We can’t win the fight for moms unless we shift our cultural expectations of motherhood — that starts with changing the way moms show up in the media we consume. Moms First is proud to partner with the Geena Davis Institute and The Archewell Foundation to call on the entertainment industry to more fully represent moms in today’s media,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “It’s time for a rewrite of motherhood so that moms finally see themselves reflected in the characters that shape our culture. We urge producers, writers, and showrunners to hire and support moms with the paid leave and child care they need so they can write authentic stories of moms that not only entertain us but also resonate with our own lives.”

The report makes clearcut recommendations for entertainment industry executives to more fully develop the characterization of motherhood in TV programming as well as invest in structural supports like child care, paid family leave, and flexible work policies that allow moms to work and thrive as employees in the industry.

“My past experience as an actress, and now today as a producer and mother, have amplified my belief in the critical importance of supporting women and moms both behind the lens and in front of it. This report about the portrayal of mothers in entertainment highlights the gaps we need to fill to achieve true representation in the content we create and consume, and I’m honored to support this work through The Archewell Foundation,” said Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, co-Founder of The Archewell Foundation.

“I was inspired to found the Geena Davis Institute 20 years ago when I realized there was a huge gender disparity in the preschool shows and animated movies aimed at kids like my toddler daughter. But representation doesn’t just matter for children – we are all impacted by how we are reflected in popular culture. Moms deserve to see authentic and validating portrayals of  motherhood on screen,” said Geena Davis, founder and chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

View the full report and its recommendations.

For more information, register here to join Moms First and the Geena Davis Institute for a virtual event to discuss the report’s findings on Wednesday, March 20 at 3pm ET, 12pm PT.

About Moms First

Moms First is a national, non-profit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay.

About the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Since 2004, the Institute – founded by Two-Time Academy Award Winning Actor Geena Davis – has worked to mitigate unconscious bias by creating equality, fostering inclusion and reducing negative stereotyping on screen in entertainment and media. As one of the top global research-based organizations, the Institute provides research, direct guidance and thought leadership aimed at increasing representation of marginalized groups within six identities: gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, disability, age, and body type. Because of its unique history and position, the Institute is trusted by leaders in the entertainment industry to help achieve true onscreen equity in a way that few organizations can.

About The Archewell Foundation 

The Archewell Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Our mission is simple: show up, do good. We meet the moment by showing up, taking action and using our unparalleled spotlight to uplift and unite communities — local and global — through acts of service and compassion. We consciously partner with key organizations and leaders to identify immediate needs, build meaningful initiatives, and drive long-term change. We are committed to uncovering and resolving the root causes of issues, prioritizing lasting solutions over temporary fixes. Our work is underpinned by the core belief that mental health and our collective wellbeing are paramount.

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Moms First New Year’s Challenge

Week One: Show Your Motherhood at Work

Moms First’s New Year’s Resolution Challenge is a free month-long program that’ll help you make your workplace ‘work out’ for moms. Sign up here and get all assignments delivered to your inbox.

Welcome to Week 1 of our New Year’s Resolution challenge to make workplaces work out better for moms!

This week, we’re calling on all the working moms out there to show their motherhood at work.

Too often, we do our best to make sure that our responsibilities as moms don’t cross over into our work life. It’s a natural response to the very rational fear that being a mom can hurt our ability to advance in our careers due to prevalent, well-documented biases.

Today, we’re challenging you to flip that notion and find a way to show your motherhood at work. The idea is simple: If we make it OK to be a mom at work, moms will do better — and our workplaces will do better by them. It’s particularly powerful when moms in leadership positions take part in modeling their roles as working parents, or when those who are not moms create the space to honor parenthood at work.

Here are just a few ideas:

  • Block off your calendar for pick-up and drop-off, then share a screenshot of your calendar on social media.
  • Post in your company’s Slack channel when you need to be offline for parenting obligations.
  • Share a selfie of you and your kids in your car on the way home from school (if that’s where you take important calls!).
  • Post a photo or video of what it looks like to work from home when child care or daycare isn’t an option.

You can take it a step further by also sharing your action on social media, and be sure to tag @MomsFirstUS & @AdeccoGroupUSFoundation_ so we can amplify with our community of moms across the U.S.

If you haven’t already signed up for our New Year’s Resolution campaign, it’s not too late! Just head to the link in our bio to start receiving our weekly resources and actions to make the workplace finally work (out) for moms in 2024.

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Moms First and The Adecco Group US Foundation Release New Survey Data on Moms in the Workplace; Launch New Year’s Resolution Campaign to “Make Your Workplace Work Out for Moms”

The survey, conducted by APCO Worldwide, found that the majority of moms dread returning to work after caregiving leave and one in three moms considered leaving the workforce entirely

NEW YORK, NY (January 3, 2024) – Today, Moms First, a national non-profit fighting for the structural support moms need to thrive, and The Adecco Group US Foundation released new survey data that explores the barriers moms face when they return to work after caregiving.

Moms First worked with APCO Worldwide to survey 1,000 moms in July of 2023 to better understand the challenges moms face when they become pregnant, return to work, and then balance work and caretaking for young children under the age of 5. Key findings from the survey, sponsored by The Adecco Group US Foundation, include:

  • 64% of moms dread returning to work after a period of caregiving
  • One in three moms consider leaving the workforce entirely after caregiving
  • 76% of moms say their company could be doing more to support parents of young children

“The message from moms is clear: workplaces need to change for women, rather than expecting women to change for workplaces,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “It’s not surprising that the overwhelming majority of moms dread returning to work after caregiving — what is surprising is that employers are still not doing enough to step up and fix it. Investing in moms is an economic imperative. Employers have the opportunity to change this, and when they do, they will be rewarded with loyalty from top talent: moms.”

In response to the survey results, Moms First kicked off a New Year’s Resolution campaign, supported by The Adecco Group US Foundation, to “Make Your Workplace Work Out for Moms.” Every January 1st, we make New Year’s Resolutions to work out more. This year, Moms First is encouraging moms to sign on to a New Year’s Resolution to make workplaces work out for moms and parents of young children and better support them at work. Throughout the month of January, the campaign offers resources for moms to go to their employers and advocate for better support, and for moms in positions of power, it provides them with a playbook to put bold change into action.

“If we want to retain moms in the workforce, we as employers need to start by understanding what support they need to thrive,” said Joyce Russell, President of The Adecco Group US Foundation. “The Adecco Group US Foundation is proud to partner with Moms First and create a playbook on how to foster a positive and inclusive work culture.”

View the full results of the APCO Worldwide survey here. And learn more about the New Year’s Resolution campaign here.

About Moms First

Moms First is a national, non-profit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay.

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Moms First launches PaidLeave.ai to help parents in New York access paid family leave

The first of its kind pilot, developed in partnership with Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Novy.ai, with early support from OpenAI, uses generative AI to help parents get paid leave benefits to care for their families

NEW YORK, NY (December 5, 2023) – Today, Moms First, a national non-profit fighting for the structural supports moms need to thrive, launched PaidLeave.ai, a first of its kind pilot to help parents in New York state access and apply for paid family leave benefits. Developed in partnership with Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Novy.ai with early support and advice from OpenAI, PaidLeave.ai utilizes generative AI to ease the burden of applying for and accessing paid family leave for families in New York state, increasing families’ economic stability and building a movement of parent advocates primed to support the future passage of federal paid family leave.

“One in four new mothers goes back to work within two weeks of giving birth and more than 90% of Americans who are low-income don’t have a single day of paid leave. That is unconscionable,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “At Moms First, we are on a mission to win paid leave and affordable child care for as many moms in as many places as possible. But if we are going to win these fights, we need to do things differently — we need to innovate, we need to utilize generative AI.”

Saujani: “At a time when parents desperately need support, benefits like paid leave are challenging to access. If you’re fortunate enough to live in one of the handful of states, like New York, where paid leave is offered, you still need to jump through hoops, navigate insurance paperwork, and decipher convoluted websites to access your benefits. PaidLeave.ai simplifies the process. It tells parents whether they are eligible, how much money they can put in their pockets, and gives them an action plan to get their benefits. Moms First is proud to launch this solution to help more parents in New York get paid family leave — making the process easy to navigate and understand. At the same time, by introducing AI tools to our growing community of over one million moms, we can begin to close the gender gap in AI usage and adoption. AI will increase access to benefits, especially for the most vulnerable among us. PaidLeave.ai is exactly the type of revolutionary public sector solution that our country needs if we want to truly build a system of care that puts moms first.”

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia currently offer statewide paid family leave benefits, but paid leave at the state level is underutilized. Parents and caregivers who are eligible to receive benefits often lack awareness of those benefits and struggle to navigate the paperwork and administrative burden that comes with accessing them.

“PaidLeave.ai is harnessing the power of innovation to help millions of New York families access vital paid family leave benefits. For far too long, families have been put in the impossible position of choosing between a day’s pay and caring for a loved one, which is why I signed transformative legislation to expand our nation-leading paid family leave program to cover care for siblings. This tool will help to put these benefits within reach for even more New Yorkers, and I look forward to a continued partnership with organizations like Moms First on our work to strengthen New York families,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

PaidLeave.ai was built by Moms First in partnership with Novy.ai and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and with early technical advice and support from OpenAI. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, PaidLeave.ai has trained a large language model (LLM) model with a vast number of resources from New York State’s Paid Family Leave website as well as comprehensive FMLA and disability forms to fully understand all of the nuances and make it easy for all parents to complete. PaidLeave.ai prioritizes confidentiality and privacy when answering detailed questions about individual circumstances, providing helpful resources along the way. Using a human-like voice, the AI helps parents maximize their benefits and provides them with a clear action plan to complete and submit their claim.

“PaidLeave.ai is a powerful model for how generative AI can change the way we approach customer service for good. This is a big step forward in helping people more easily access the benefits they need to care for their families,” said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “I’ve spent 40 years of my career working in customer service and the main thing I’ve learned is to treat people the way you want to be treated. This application of generative AI shows that if you act in good faith and commit to providing good customer service everywhere, then customer service can begin to meet real social needs and actually help families who need it most.”

“At Novy, we care deeply about finding new solutions to public problems, modernizing organizations for the AI era, and helping to increase access to technology — it’s part of our ethos,” said Elias Torres, Founder and CEO of Novy.ai. “We are proud to deliver this pioneering solution for parents in New York state. After decades of working with for-profit businesses, it is refreshing and inspiring to work with Reshma and the Moms First team to bring their vision to life and ensure that parents have everything they need to access the benefits they deserve and feel confident along the way.”

“PaidLeave.ai is a clear, high-impact example of how AI can help deliver public good,” said Julie Samuels, President & Executive Director of Tech:NYC. “As a working mother, I understand the urgent need for structural support for families, and there is no denying that technology can play an important role in increasing access to paid family leave benefits — resources too many households don’t know they’re already eligible for. We are proud to see Moms First leading the way in harnessing tech to make life easier for all New York families.”

Allowing more parents in New York to access paid leave is a critical step toward addressing deeply-rooted gender inequality — an issue that is exacerbated by women’s slow adoption of AI in the workplace. Only 35% of women are using generative AI tools like ChatGPT in their jobs, compared to 48% of men, hurting women’s earning potential and worsening the gender pay gap in our country. OpenAI’s technology makes PaidLeave.ai easy-to-use and has the potential to increase trust in AI among New York parents while ensuring they can access the critical paid family leave benefits they need to care for their families.

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About Moms First

Moms First is a national, non-profit organization transforming our workplaces and culture to enable moms in America to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay.

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Moms First Statement on President Biden’s Emergency Child Care Funding Request to Congress

Today, President Biden called on Congress to invest $16 billion in emergency child care funding as part of his domestic emergency aid priorities. The announcement comes weeks after critical child care stabilization funding expired on September 30, a lapse that threatens to increase child care prices for working families and existing staffing shortages, resulting in a significant reduction of child care seats for our country’s youngest children.

See below for a statement from Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Moms First: 

“With this announcement, President Biden has unequivocally put moms first. Thank you for your leadership to uplift moms and caregivers across the country. Moms, you shared your stories and gave voice to how your labor keeps our economy running, day-in and day-out, as parents and child care providers. You were relentless, and we must be relentless in calling on Congress to take action and fund our child care system.”

In the months before the child care cliff, Moms First rallied our more than one million moms and supporters to send thousands of letters to Congress urging their representatives to prioritize child care as critical infrastructure. We brought business advocates for child care to Capitol Hill and the White House, and we activated a surround sound campaign to prioritize child care investments, bringing the issue from the margins to the mainstream.

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The Honorable Charles Schumer
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.

October 20, 2021

Dear Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi,

I’m not an elected official, and I’m not a politician. I am, like many, an engaged citizen and a parent. And because you and your congressional colleagues have a role in shaping family outcomes for generations to come, that’s why I’m writing to you at this deeply important time—as a mom—to advocate for paid leave.

Over the past 20 months, the pandemic has exposed long-existing fault lines in our communities. At an alarming rate, millions of women dropped out of the workforce, staying home with their kids as schools and daycares were closed, and looking after loved ones full-time. The working mom or parent is facing the conflict of being present or being paid. The sacrifice of either comes at a great cost.

For many, this sacrifice goes back further than the past 20 months; it’s 20 or 30 years, even longer—decades of giving time, body, and endless energy not just in the pursuit of the American dream, but simply the dream of stability.

I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzler—it may have cost less back then (to be honest, I can’t remember)—but what I do remember was the feeling: I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky. And as a Girl Scout, when my troop would go to dinner for a big celebration, it was back to that same salad bar or The Old Spaghetti Factory—because that’s what those families could afford to do too.

I started working (at the local frozen yogurt shop) at the age of 13. I waited tables, babysat, and piecemealed jobs together to cover odds and ends. I worked all my life and saved when and where I could—but even that was a luxury—because usually it was about making ends meet and having enough to pay my rent and put gas in my car.

I expect many of your constituents have their own version of that story. Perhaps you do too. People in our country work incredibly hard, and yet the ask is soft: for a level playing field to achieve their version of a common dream—what is fair, and equal, and right. Many of our economic systems are past their expiration date, and as you well know, too many Americans are forced to shortchange themselves when it comes to what matters to them.

In June, my husband and I welcomed our second child. Like any parents, we were overjoyed. Like many parents, we were overwhelmed. Like fewer parents, we weren’t confronted with the harsh reality of either spending those first few critical months with our baby or going back to work. We knew we could take her home, and in that vital (and sacred) stage, devote any and everything to our kids and to our family.  We knew that by doing so we wouldn’t have to make impossible choices about childcare, work, and medical care that so many have to make every single day.

No family should be faced with these decisions. No family should have to choose between earning a living and having the freedom to take care of their child (or a loved one, or themselves, as we would see with a comprehensive paid leave plan).

In taking care of your child, you take care of your community, and you take care of your country—because when paid leave is a right, we’re creating a foundation that helps address mental health outcomes, health care costs, and economic strength at the starting line. Instead, as it stands now, we spend a fortune as a country paying into symptoms rather than causes.  I understand that with everything going on these days, people might find it easy to be apathetic about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. And then equally, when it feels like your voice doesn’t matter, you tend to use it less often, but with stakes this high none of us can afford to let apathy win.

I’m writing to you on behalf of millions of American families who are using their voices to say that comprehensive paid leave should not be a place to compromise or negotiate. In fact, most nations already have paid leave policies in place. Estonia, for example, offers over a year and a half of leave to be shared by new parents. Many other countries have robust programs that give months of time for both parents (birth or adoptive) to be home with their child. The United States, in stark contrast, does not federally guarantee any person a single day of paid leave. And fewer than one in four workers has dedicated paid family leave through their employer. I’m sure you agree that if we are to continue to be exceptional, then we can’t be the exception.

The families you represent need your strong leadership. With paid leave on the cusp of becoming a national reality, I trust you will meet this moment. I know you must hear from your constituents about the choices they are facing every day to make ends meet and care for their families.

Paid leave should be a national right, rather than a patchwork option limited to those whose employers have policies in place, or those who live in one of the few states where a leave program exists. If we’re going to create a new era of family first policies, let’s make sure that includes a strong paid leave program for every American that’s guaranteed, accessible, and encouraged without stigma or penalty.

I know how politically charged things can—and have—become. But this isn’t about Right or Left, it’s about right or wrong. This is about putting families above politics. And for a refreshing change, it’s something we all seem to agree on. At a point when everything feels so divisive, let this be a shared goal that unites us.

So, on behalf of my family, Archie and Lili and Harry, I thank you for considering this letter, and on behalf of all families, I ask you to ensure this consequential moment is not lost.

As ever,

Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex

On behalf of Marshall Plan for Moms, Oxfam America,  PL+US and Paid Leave For All, we are proud to share  a public letter to Congress that Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex has sent on the case for enacting paid family and medical leave protections in the US.

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MOMS FIRST RELEASES BIPARTISAN POLL

Recently, we conducted a bipartisan poll to find out how the pandemic has impacted mothers across the country, and what lawmakers to do to help.

It wasn’t surprising to learn that moms are struggling and Washington isn’t doing enough to support them. But here’s what did jump out: moms across the political spectrum aren’t just united in their challenges, they’re also unified in their preferred solutions.

It’s time to establish infrastructure for mothers to thrive in the workplace, and for their children to succeed in the classroom: paid family leave, universal pre-K, higher wages for caregivers, and so much more. By passing Biden’s current infrastructure package, Congress has the chance to do just that.

At a time when Democrats and Republicans can agree on very little, over three quarters of all female voters—including 83 percent of moms—support policies provided by a Marshall Plan for Moms. That’s more than four in five liberals and 73 percent of conservatives.

We also found that 73 percent of all female voters, including 77 percent of all moms, would support a candidate who shares their views on core parenting-related issues—even if that candidate is from a different political party.

Read more on Medium, and view the poll results below.

Bipartisan Poll

 

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Dear United States Congress:

In January, 50 prominent women called for a Marshall Plan for Moms: a 360-plan to get women back to work that includes:

  • Direct payments to moms, who have had their paid labor in the workforce replaced by unseen, unpaid labor at home.
  • Passing long overdue policies like paid family leave, affordable childcare, and pay equity.
  • Retraining programs to ensure women can fill the jobs that will exist.
  • Plans to safely reopen schools 5 days a week.

We stand with them. We need a Marshall Plan for Moms — now.

When more than 30 years of progress for women in the workforce can be erased in 9 months, the underlying system is broken. It’s time to create a new structure that works for women, that respects and values their labor.

Men have a role to play.

As partners and fathers we need to start doing our share at home. Studies show we are failing.

As the majority of employers we also need to create more protections and flexibility for working moms, and to put an end to the “motherhood penalty” that punishes them for exercising it.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have called the crisis affecting moms a “national emergency.” We agree. For that we need Congress to pass a national solution: a Marshall Plan for Moms.

Women have been fighting for equality for centuries. Now is the time to finish that fight and rebuild our economy to finally value women’s work.

Signed by:

TIM ALLEN
Care.com

BRENDON AYANBADEJO
NFL Champion & West Coast Fitness

JUSTIN BALDONI
Filmmaker & Entrepreneur

RAMIN BASTANI
Healthvana

VIJAY CHATTHA
VSC

DON CHEADLE

TOM COLICCHIO

VICTOR CRUZ

SETH CURRY

STEPHEN CURRY

MIKE DE LA ROCHA
Revolve Impact

WINSTON DUKE

ARNE DUNCAN
Emerson Collective

ANDY DUNN
Monica + Andy

COLIN FARRELL

STEW FRIEDMAN
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

SCOTT GALLOWAY
NYU Professor

JASON WINSTON GEORGE

JEREMY GOLDBERG
LeagueApps

ADAM GRANT
Author and organizational psychologist

GEORGE GRESHAM
President of 1199 SEIU UHE

HILL HARPER

AARON HOLIDAY
645 Ventures

ANTHONY ABRAHAM JACK
Professor, Harvard University

JOHN B. KING JR.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education; The Education Trust

SUNDEEP MADRA
Entrepreneur

J.R. MARTINEZ
Actor & Veteran

NIHAL MEHTA
Eniac Ventures

MAURÍCIO MOTA
Wise Entertainment

CRAIG NEWMARK
craigslist & Craig Newmark Philanthropies

ALEXIS OHANIAN
776

BRIAN O’KELLEY
Waybridge

JACQUES-PHILIPPE PIVERGER
Entrepreneur

REV. PAUL BRANDELS RAUSHENBUSH
Writer, Religious Leader

JJ REDICK

ROBERT REFFKIN
Compass

ALBERTO RETANA
Community Coalition

DOC RIVERS

DAN ROSENWEIG
Chegg

MARK K. SHRIVER
Save the Children

MICHAEL SKOLNIK
The Soze Agency

DEVARAJ SOUTHWORTH
Thirstie, Inc.

BARATUNDE THURSTON
How To Citizen With Baratunde

VIVEK J. TIWARY
Tiwary Entertainment Group

JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS

FRED WILSON
USV

ANDREW YANG

BEN YARROW
West Wing Writers

JEREMIAH “ICE” YOUNOSSI
Music Agent & Writer

JEFFREY ZUROFSKY
Entrepreneur & Activist

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You know this well: moms are the bedrock of society. And we’re tired of working for free.

Dear President Biden:

You know this well: moms are the bedrock of society. And we’re tired of working for free.

We need a Marshall Plan for Moms — Now

Like the original Marshall Plan of 1948, this plan would be a financial investment in rebuilding from the ground up.

COVID has decimated so many of our careers. Two million of us have left the workforce, at a rate of four times that of men in September alone. Millions more have been forced to cut back our hours or work around the clock to keep our jobs and be full-time caregivers.

This is not an isolated incident — it is a national crisis. You didn’t create this problem, but your administration has an opportunity to fix it. In your first 100 days, we’re asking you to:

  • Establish a task force to create a Marshall Plan for Moms.
  • Implement a short-term monthly payment to moms depending on needs and resources.
  • Pass long overdue policies like paid family leave, affordable childcare and pay equity.

Sound crazy? It’s not.

It’s time to put a dollar figure on our labor. Motherhood isn’t a favor and it’s not a luxury. It’s a job.

The first 100 days are an opportunity to define our values. So let’s start by valuing moms.

TOYIN AJAYI
Cityblock Health

KATIA BEAUCHAMP
Birchbox

KATIE BETHELL
Paid Leave for the US (PL + US)

CONNIE BRITTON

JEAN BROWNHILL
Sweeten

TARANA BURKE
’me too.’ Movement

MELISSA BUTLER
The Lip Bar

CLAUDIA CHAN
S.H.E Summit

JULIA COLLINS
Planet FWD

DR. DARA KASS

TIFFANY DUFU
The Cru

ANU DUGGAL
Female Founders Fund

SARAH EAGLE HEART
Eagle Heart Collectiv

CRYSTAL ECHO HAWK
Executive Director, IllumiNative

SARAH SOPHIE FLICKER
Artist and Activist

MINDY GROSSMAN
WW International, Inc.

DESIREE GRUBER
Full Picture

SARAH HARDEN
Hello Sunshine

NAOMI HIRABAYASHI
Shine

CHELSEA HIRSCHHORN
Frida Mom

JENNIFER HYMAN
Rent the Runway

PAYAL KADAKIA
Classpass

SALLIE KRAWCHECK
Ellevest

MARIA TERESA KUMAR
VotoLatino

MARISA RENEE LEE
Beacon Advisers

CINDI LEIVE
The Meteor

MARAH LIDEY
Shine

EVA LONGORIA

PAOLA MENDOZA
Artist, Filmmaker and Activist

ALYSSA MILANO

JULIANNE MOORE

ANA ORTIZ

HITHA PALEPU
#5SmartReads

DEE POKU
The WIE Suite

AI-JEN POO

MÓNICA RAMIREZ
Activist and Organizer

GEENA ROCERO
Transgender Advocate

EVE RODSKY
Author, Fair Play

KATHERINE RYDER
Maven

RESHMA SAUJANI
Girls Who Code

AMY SCHUMER

LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY
Vote Mama

RACHEL SKLAR
TheLuckiest.com

TABITHA ST. BERNARD-JACOBS
Women’s March

AMBER TAMBLYN

CHARLIZE THERON

SALAMISHAH TILLET
A Long Walk Home

GABRIELLE UNION

ALEXA VON TOBEL
Inspired Capital

WHITNEY WOLFE HERD
Bumble