Women at Work

How Mothers WFH Are Negotiating What’s Normal


Listen Later

Many months into the pandemic, we examine the effects working from home is having on the ways housework and childcare get done there. Forced togetherness and relentless negotiations for space and time are creating a more even division of labor within some families, which may lead to career gains for mothers.

Harvard Business School professor Kathleen McGinn highlights findings from her ongoing research on how working parents are reconsidering and shifting their roles and responsibilities. Then, we discuss how women are navigating those negotiations and pushing for a more equitable future with two working mothers with young children at home: HBR.org editor Maureen Hoch and Katherine Goldstein, host of the podcast The Double Shift.

Our HBR reading list:

  • Why WFH Isn’t Necessarily Good for Women,” by Herminia Ibarra et al.
  • Don’t Let the Pandemic Set Back Gender Equality,” by Deepa Mahajan et al.
  • Gender Equity Starts in the Home,” by David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson
  • How to Let Go of Working-Mom Guilt,” by Sheryl G. Ziegler
  • Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Women at WorkBy Harvard Business Review

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    1,363 ratings


    More shows like Women at Work

    View all
    The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

    The McKinsey Podcast

    378 Listeners

    The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

    The Look & Sound of Leadership

    1,163 Listeners

    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    165 Listeners

    Round Table China by China Plus

    Round Table China

    150 Listeners

    Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

    Cold Call

    194 Listeners

    Dear HBR: by Harvard Business Review

    Dear HBR:

    746 Listeners

    Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

    Worklife with Adam Grant

    9,163 Listeners

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

    97 Listeners

    HBS Managing the Future of Work by Harvard Business School

    HBS Managing the Future of Work

    104 Listeners

    The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

    The Anxious Achiever

    570 Listeners

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

    788 Listeners

    No Stupid Questions by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

    No Stupid Questions

    3,635 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    669 Listeners

    The So What from BCG by Boston Consulting Group BCG

    The So What from BCG

    219 Listeners

    Business English from All Ears English by Lindsay McMahon

    Business English from All Ears English

    75 Listeners

    HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Strategy

    78 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    167 Listeners

    New Here by Harvard Business Review

    New Here

    82 Listeners