Adland needs to learn to embrace mothers, just as mothers need to embrace adland
After a shift from client side to agency side after having a baby, LIDA’s Melinda Lofts began to see the boxes adland’s mothers are often too easily put in.
From the moment I was engaged I made a conscious decision not to wear my engagement ring to any job interviews. I knew that my chances of a job offer could be reduced if interviewers knew I was in my late 20s and engaged.
What I really wanted to do was ask about the maternity policy of my new potential workplaces, as it would have huge ramifications on my future finances – but I resisted. I am not alone, as many of my friends who work in media or law confirmed they have done the same.
God being a mum sounds boring
I’m hoping this is a joke. What a shit thing to say.
As a dad, parenthood is just about the best thing ever.
At some point you realise white line fever is a fairly hollow existence I guess.
Best of luck.
At first your article angered me – not wear your engagement ring?! Are you kidding? Do men have to worry about this? Of course not. But then you came around by encouraging women that they should be proud mums. I couldn’t agree more. The problem is we all “think” everyone will have a problem with us being mums. So we pussy foot around it and hide it like it’s a dirty secret. The more we own it, the more it doesn’t define us. It’s the only way we can change the status quo. We should encourage all women to be proud of where they are in life and find ways that can bring value to their role (just like you did working on the infant product pitch). And you’re right, if someone has an issue with your life stage, that’s their problem and they would be a shitty boss anyway.
Agree!! And you not only need to own being a parent, but you have to seize flexibility and prove it works. No-one will offer it to you.
You need have a positive and frank conversation with your team and start leave when you need to to pick up your kids, then log back on for the 1.5 – 2 hours you need to do to get the work done. Meetings can and will happen when you are actually there: 9-4pm is a long time! Or you can even phone in. God knows that’s always an acceptable option when my client and team want to meet on my day off.
People start to see that no balls are getting dropped, the work is being done and everyone is happy (I mean really happy ie mental wellbeing of you, your family and your co-workers) because being made to feel like a cheat or someone who ‘sneaks out early’ is soul destroying and disrespectful. Especially when that same person always gets the work done.