Careers don’t pause — bias does.

For too long, motherhood and careers have been framed as a trade-off. A recent article from Catherine Carr (you know, the award-winning documentary maker, presenter, podcast producer and reporter) in ‘The Independent’ challenges that idea, and it’s a conversation worth amplifying.

The invisible expectation

Many women are still seen as the “default parent,” carrying most of the mental load at home. The problem? When this expectation exists, workplaces often assume mothers are less available or committed, and that’s where inequality begins.

It shouldn’t be left to mothers

The message is clear: caregiving shouldn’t fall mostly on women.

When it does, the impact is real:

• Slower career progression

• Missed opportunities

• The pressure to choose between ambition and family

This “motherhood penalty” continues to shape careers in ways we can’t ignore.

This is bigger than women

This isn’t just a mothers’ issue — it’s a systems issue. Workplaces and norms were built on outdated assumptions. To move forward, we need to:

• Normalize shared caregiving

• Encourage parental leave for all

• Make flexibility standard

When responsibilities are shared, opportunities can be too.

Changing the narrative

Motherhood doesn’t limit potential, it builds valuable skills like resilience and adaptability. It’s time we start recognizing that.

Why it matters

At Inspiring Girls Switzerland, we believe that the stories girls hear shape the futures they imagine.

If girls grow up seeing women forced to choose between career and family, that becomes their expectation. But if they see a world where responsibilities — and opportunities — are shared, everything changes.

This isn’t just about supporting mothers.
It’s about creating a future where no one is limited by outdated roles.

Let’s move forward

Let’s challenge outdated expectations—and stop leaving it all to mothers.

Because equality at work begins with equality at home.