The Motherhood Manifesto

The advocacy group Moms Rising has a documentary out that needs to be seen by every American. The Motherhood Manifesto is informative, factual, and sprinkled with some humor. It tells stories of motherhood in America that should lead the viewer to wonder just what are we doing, and what is important to us as a country.

With the animated character Bev Betters popping in to expose the myth of the super mom, the film looks at real mothers and families facing real problems in an America that seems to value the imagined "bottom line" much more than it values motherhood.

The stories of real people and real challenges are backed up with facts. Like a recent study saying that mothers are about half as likely as single women to get selected for a job when both have the same resume. And for the same skilled jobs, when they do get an offer it is for an average of 11,000 dollars less per year.

"In the land of family values, mothers and families receive less support than anywhere else in the industrial world." The narrator states. And is goes downhill from there. In America, only one in seven workers receives paid leave for child birth, making the United States unique in the developed world. As the film points out, "we are, as the wealthiest country in the world, at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to family leave and maternity leave policies." The U.S. is on a par with Lesotho, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea when it comes to family and maternity leave.

The next topic addressed is the lack of flexibility in schedules for working mothers and fathers and the stresses brought by having very little family time. Highlighted are two companies that are implementing policies that offer flexibility. The need for better after-school and pre-school programs for working families is looked at, as is the relationship between unsupervised children and juvenile crime.

And what if children get sick? What if that child is really ill, to the point that it drives a family to bankruptcy? A serious childhood illness can cost thousands, even with what passes as health insurance in America.

"I think people need to understand that, they're just one accident away," one mother says. Millions of families are at risk. Medical costs are a factor in half of all bankruptcies.

The film reports that 18,000 Americans each year die simply from not having any health insurance. Nine million American children don't currently have any health coverage. Again, America looks very bad when compared to other industrialized nations. America spends far more for health care than any other country, yet ranks far below the other industrial countries when outcomes are measured. To insure all children would not only relieve families of a major source of insecurity, it is estimated to actually save money.

Daycare in America is looked at too.. Many people may not know that daycare for young children can cost as much as college tuition. Daycare workers earn an average of 17,000 dollars per year. What kind of "value" is that placing on the family?

"What is an economy for?" One person asks. "If an economy isn't to support working parents and to support their care-giving, then what are we doing this for?"

The film shows us what is wrong, then points to what can be done. There are proposals at both the state and federal levels to address some of the concerns.

Moms Rising and the Motherhood Manifesto are fighting to bring real change for mothers and families in America. All Americans need to realize that "family values" are more than just a slogan. We need to stop being complacent and do what is right for our mothers, our families, and our children. Speaking for fathers, it is just as important for us too.

"I think that its time to put our money and our policy where our mouth is on family values," says Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-author of the Motherhood Manifesto book. Well said.

For more information on the film or the organization behind it, visit www.momsrising.org The group has also partnered with www.moveon.org to offer the DVD free to all Move On members.