As a young female interested in understanding and promoting empowering workplaces, I'd like to go on the record and say that I've had enough of the Mom vs. Worker debate. The hostile finger-pointing that characterizes recent conversation leaves audiences feeling hopeless, bitter, and fearful. Instead, I'd like to propose that there is no "right" way to live professionally or personally, and we should not feel offended/threatened by decisions that do not reflect our own path. Variation should be expected, not criticized! That is what keeps things interesting. I'd also like to take this opportunity to redefine a frequently used but misunderstood concept - feminism.

Feminism is...

equality - specifically, feminism is the belief that women and men are equal;
about belonging - in our societies, workplaces, and families; and
about being significant - on a physical, emotional, social, and political level

Feminism is NOT...

the belief that women are better than men;
the belief that women don't need men; or
the belief that women are any more important than other "classes" of society

It's that simple.

However, the vast majority of our public is SO reluctant to claim feminism. Ask most young women if they are feminists, and you'd be surprised by how many would respond with qualified "no's." No good! Sure, the term itself has a bad rap, but my fear is that this is a much deeper issue. And it begs the following questions:

How can women effectively work in companies and organizations where they feel less worthy/valuable than their male colleagues?

How can women effectively contribute to a society in which they feel they do not belong?