As if working mothers didn't have enough on their plate, from juggling childcare, relationship, social life and then a career, turns out the work drinks is another way they're penalised. Our favourite Manhattan gallery worker Charlotte Yorke Goldenblatt was caught in the tug-of-war between wanting to further her career and her obligations as a mother in the latest episode of And Just Like That. And it's something mothers have also been dealing with off-screen.
One one side are the parents who have to leave work drinks early to pick up their kids, and on the other are the non-parents who end up connecting more through shared drinks and end up networking with clients and furthering their careers in the hours after 5pm. In the latest episode, Charlotte feels like she's missing out on work opportunities when she realises her Gen Z colleagues are doing deals when they're out clubbing. She also describes herself as being seen as 'the boring mother' who has to always leave early to take her kids home.
We have to offer the obvious disclaimer that Charlotte is extremely privileged, and literally lives in a New York palace with her rich lawyer husband. Childcare is not an issue in the same way it is for anyone else outside of her tax bracket, and only seems to be getting worse. New polling by More in Common for the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) found high childcare fees are causing 15% of parents with a child under five to quit their job in the last year. With that in mind, it's interesting to see just how pervasive the motherhood penalty is at work, even in spite of her wealth. Is anyone benefitting with the current approach to work and parenthood?
It's something that's clearly resonated with real mums too, with one mother of two telling Grazia, 'Whether I'm running out of a meeting early or having to swerve drinks or a networking event I actually want to go to - which I've done twice this week - the pressure of making my two lives fit together is always at the forefront of my mind, especially in the summer when there's loads going on.
'I always think people think i'm off home to put my feet up, but i'm running to the train, running to nursery, then lugging two exhausted children home with all of their bags.
'In truth, in the moment, I'd far rather be like seeing a meeting right to the end, or get to know my colleagues, or actually be seen in the industry than doing a stressful, sweaty pick up. The reality is that we're in a culture where we expect everyone to always be on in their career to achieve, and that's just not doable for me.'
The latest series feels like a glow-up for Charlotte, she's re-entered the job market and pursues her professional passions again. But the reality is, we're still living in a world where mothers feel pulled from every side to maintain a career and family, let alone a personal life. In some ways it's reassuring to see some issues still cross the wealth divide, but it's also a reminder of just how badly we need to accommodate parents in the workplace. Thank you And Just Like That for the reminder!
Ruchira Sharma is Acting Senior Editor at Grazia, where she writes and edits features for print and digital. From online dating culture, to cryptocurrency and online conspiracy theories, she's most interested by how online life shapes society.