AAUW Dialog

I started writing a blog two weeks ago about a chapter in The Shriver Report—A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything called “Sick and Tired.” The chapter outlines some of the troubles women have finding health care, receiving health care, and caring for others. I began to write about the women who worked as waitresses, which complicates their pregnancies, who forgo their own health care to care for another, or who put off pregnancy to later in life — when the pregnancy is more difficult — because of their careers.

I never finished that blog. Why? I got busy with work. I had to take time to go to the doctor and dentist. I had to deal with responsibilities around the house. I had to get my car fixed.

Compared to most women, my life is easy. I have no kids or other dependents; I have a good job, health insurance, and safe housing. But that doesn’t mean that work-life balance is something that even I can accomplish. It still seems like I am always juggling too much, trying to make sure none of the balls drop.

Then I thought about the women in the report and their struggles with lack of access to health care, their dangerous jobs, and their care-giving responsibilities. I don’t know how they do it, but they do. Millions of American women, who make on average 77 cents on the dollar for what men make, accomplish the impossible. I really believe moms all qualify for superhero status.

Work-life balance is something we all seek, but it really is a Holy Grail that may never be realized. On top of everything else we have to do, we have to work to end the additional obstacles that women face, like equal pay and equal access to health care. It may seem impossible to accomplish, but when has that ever stopped us before?