There’s an Eruption in My Living Room! The Care Economy, Part 2
Release Date: 09/01/2022
Mental Health and Getting Well in the Workplace, with Vivia Chen
Parity Podcast
Kicking off the fourth season, Cathy and Deborah welcome Vivia Chen to discuss the challenges of getting the care you need for your mental health. Vivia, an award winning columnist and prolific opinion writer, was denied short term disability because she was not deemed "sad enough." Vivia discusses mental health stereotypes and solutions for change. You can find and on LinkedIn.
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The Backlash: Unpacking the State of DEI
Parity Podcast
In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss the revolt against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts - and women - in the workplace. How did the seemingly noncontentious goal of inclusivity become controversial? More importantly, what can we learn from this back lash to transform our own approach? As always, we offer solutions.
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Believing in Yourself, A Conversation with Angela B. Freeman
Parity Podcast
In this episode, we talk to Angela B. Freeman, mom, wife, law firm partner, and podcaster about where she's been and what she hopes for in teaming up with others. We discuss the moments White women have failed to be allies and partners to Women of Color, and what we all need to do to step up, including recognizing the advantages some people have based on skin color. Along with firmly believing in herself but knowing she had to be twice as good, Angela carried - and continues to carry - a deep curiousity for others.
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Pipeline Problems and Strategies for Women, 2023 Year in Review
Parity Podcast
The year 2023 brought incremental gains at the top for women overall but not for women of color. Women in middle management also lost ground, leaving open the question of whether gains at the top were a passing fancy. Join us to discuss 2023 challenges as well as solutions.
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We're Not Going Back
Parity Podcast
Join us for a discussion with Blessing Adesiyan who entered corporate American with a baby in her arms, literally. She shares her nuggets about creating a care infrastructure for workers at all levels and how businesses can best adapt in this new post-COVID landscape. As Blessing says, we're not going back to how it was before. In this new reality, caring about workers is as imperative for their well-being as it is for the bottom line.
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What's In It For Me?
Parity Podcast
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts surged in 2020, but are now experiencing headwinds. Carrie Fletcher, leadership and strategy consultant, joins us to discuss how and why DEI initiatives falter, the critical role of men, and the need to address the elephant in the room which asks "what's in it for me"?
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Bringing Men to the Table with the Good Guys
Parity Podcast
Good Guys authors David Smith and Brad Johnson say that men are the key to gender parity. We agree but we need many more men as allies. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah ask the tough questions. What is standing in the way of full engagement by men? And for those men who are engaged, what can they do right now? You can learn more about the important work that Dave and Brad are doing on . You can also read their books and Where You Can Find Us Website: Follow us on Co-Hosts: and
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GERI, Where Women and Men Talk Gender
Parity Podcast
We are joined by Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI) to discuss bringing women and men together to listen to each other and bridge the gender divide. Its view? Parity isn't possible unless we engage with each other more deeply. GERI colleagues Cynthia Brix and Jon Levitt share a glimpse into what this process entails.
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Privilege: Breaking Down Defensiveness and Opening Up Dialogue
Parity Podcast
People hear a lot of different things when they hear the word "privilege," both good and bad. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss their own privileges and how to have a more constructive, nuanced discussion, including by ditching the word. They also discuss "aha" moments and best practices for using whatever privileges -- or advantages -- you have to create a more inclusive workplace.
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They said what?!: Calling Out and Calling In Bias
Parity Podcast
We focus a lot in this day and age on unconscious bias, but women continue to experience head-scratching moments of in-your-face, outright explicit bias. From public shaming to cornering and bullying, listen in on these modern-day examples of good old-fashioned blatant sexism - and know you are not alone. Then, learn what you can do as the target of bias, and even more importantly as an ally, including by "calling out" and "calling in." For more information, we recommend these resources:
info_outlineCaregiving is a second economy that requires a skilled workforce all its own. Yet, in the absence of acknowledging the scale and critical relevance of this economy, the main drivers and load-bearers of this economy remain women. We simply cannot achieve gender parity without more support and without others taking on their share of the load. Dr. Nithila Peter joins us in a 2-part series to discuss solutions.
You can subscribe! so you don’t miss any episodes! Time-stamped show notes are below. You can find a transcript of today’s episode here
If you would like to learn more about today’s topic:
Unfinished Business by Anne Marie Slaughter
The Price of Motherhood; Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued, by Ann Crittendon, (2001)
Secrets of the Sprakkar by Eliza Reid
Blessing Adesiyan, the Founder and CEO of Mother Honestly, is a good resource
1:00 Women are disproportionately responsible for the caring of others
1:30 Dr. Nithila Peter is joining us today
2:36 Today is about solutions
2:45 Part 1 discussed lack of support system
3:32 Part 1 discussed society places a low value on caregiving, no support systems were put in place when mothers entered the workforce, and modern feminism forgot about mothers
4:18 Mothers face bias
4:50 Inaccurate that mothers are less committed
5:35 Mothers earn $.69 for every $1 earned by men
6:30 Motherhood penalty
6:50 Men’s standing increases when becoming fathers
8:20 Women gain skills when becoming mothers
10:40 Emotion, mental, and physical toll of trying to do it all
11:00 Lessons from Indian, Latin, and Indigenous cultures
11:50 Mothers have high cultural value in India
12:25 Story of Nithila’s Indian (South-Asian) family helping to raise her children
13:30 Nithila’s family and extended network enabled her to complete her PhD
14:00 Workplaces should value unique skills of parents
15:20 Obama’s made caregiving more visible through Marian Robinson
18:00 Asian culture offers solution but is a hard model for families stretched thin
19:15 Motherhood is more visible in India for actors, politicians, and others
21:00 Mothers have also been wartime leaders
21:10 Overturning of Roe v. Wade puts additional pressure on the care economy
22:22 18 year old had twins - what support does she have?
23:00 Appalled by mother’s lives now at risk
23:30 Dobbs further reduces mothers’ power in society
24:30 Will gender parity be extended due to Dobbs?
25:30 Difficult to make this prediction
27:50 One solution is more legislative support like paid leave
28:30 Family planning needs more attention
29:09 Flex and hybrid arrangements should stay in place
32:15 Celebrity male leaders do not have reputations for being good caregivers
33:00 We need more caregivers and those with empathy in leadership roles
34:30 We all have equal opportunities to grow caregiving skills
34:45 Many economic successes during pandemic while workers were at home
35:25 Focus on organizational culture
Where You Can Find Us
Website: www.par-ity.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Co-Hosts: Deborah Pollack-Milgate and Cathy Nestrick
Email [email protected] with questions or comments