I am dumbfounded – firstly, why don’t women, elite in their field, receive a proper support system? And secondly, I should have seen it coming.

When people imagine women in workforce, the default image is an office worker. Maybe a teacher or health care professional. Women doing trade jobs like construction are rarely highlighted. And sports are only in our wildest dreams.

Yet people with physically demanding jobs, like soccer/football in this article, are the ones who require the most care.

Motherhood has one of the greatest effects on women’s careers. After starting a family there is a:

• 32% reduction in women in managerial roles
• 44% increase of women in admin roles
• Increase in unpaid employment
• Increase in unpaid labor (childcare and housework) [1]

And this doesn’t even begin to include the physical toll of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum complications etc that exclusively affect the person carrying the child.

Yet women, even the most elite, aren’t getting the support they need.

And it could be so simple.

• Hire childcare to go with the team for all practices, tours, and tournaments.
• Offer extra health support for those more recently postpartum.
• Institute rest times into the team’s schedule so there are designated times when mothers can have a break from their children (who are being well cared for!) and get a nap.

And, as always, fathers/partners should be expected to be involved.

What are other ways women can get support at work so the baby years can be less inhibiting and more fulfilling?

.

.

.

[1] Returning to work as a new mum. Phoenix Group. 2023. https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insights/publications/returning-to-work-as-a-new-mum/
.