CAREERS - Anyone? And while we're at it - WTF maternity wear?

[ActingUp]

I had my first baby 14 years ago. I was employed by STA Travel, who essentially forced me out when I came back from mat. leave so I started my own business so I could support myself and baby as a single parent. Yada-yada-yada. I'm now married, with a happy teen and baby #2 on the way (7 weeks) and while I'm hopeful that things have somewhat improved since 2009 (thank you Pregnant Then Screwed), I'm also furious that they haven't improved enough.

I'm currently looking out a new job and hindered in my thinking and applying by the question 'will they employ me if I'm pregnant?' and 'I'm only able to access mat. pay if I've been there a year'. Is my career and earning capacity STILL to be held back by outdated working culture which drastically favours men? I'm a senior exec. with successful track record as a CEO and have shaped inclusive feminist policy, making our company's first hire of a pregnant person last year. This attitude is anomalous though and the more I look, the more my already hyped-up-fury pregnancy hormones are provoked by exclusive policy which locks women out of career development while they're baking.

While we're at it, can someone PLEASE design a range of mat. clothes which does not involve ditsy floral prints and stretchy jersey knit. Where are the structured, and comfortable, power blazers or long cuffed smart shirts which work with a fat tummy? When I Google mat. wear, it's all women tenderly cupping their bump and submissively looking down in an ultra feminine mummy-smirk reminiscent of 1980s pampers ad. Where are the board room shots of women who confidently present business growth forecasts in slick outfits while carrying a baby? Wake up fashion and media! The current fashion reflects super outdated ideas about how women should behave when they're 'with child'. Does this make anyone else furious enough to team up and do something about it?

While teeming with hormones I'm highly energised and creative, and a fantastic hire into leadership. Current convention says no. I'm joining the drive to change this because I don't want my own daughter being subjected to crap opportunities and low expectations cast on the 50% of the workforce who are simultaneously birthing/raising the next generation of economic contributors, while paying taxes, student loans and mortgages, just like men.

....Okaaaaaaay.

If the fashion you want doesn't exist it's probably because there isn't sufficient demand to make it profitable. Structured, tailored clothing doesn't work well with a constantly changing shape and most pregnant women want something less confining.

Nobody is stopping pregnant women changing jobs or taking challenging roles. Crack on. If you are as good as you say I'm sure you can negotiate a package which includes full additional parental pay.

I agree with you. I needed very professional and formal clothes for DD2 and none could be found. I swear I wore the same white shirt, black pants every day for the last 5 months, changing it up with jewelry. Even my blazers didn't fit at month 8. Good luck.

www.seraphine.com/en-gb/navy-blue-ponte-maternity-blazer/

www.uk.isabellaoliver.com/products/amalfi-maternity-blazer-ash-grey

…but what’s wrong with wearing comfy or floral stretch jersey in the boardroom? Why do you have to dress traditionally male to do a good job?

I’m not sure you’re a fantastic hire into leadership with narrow views and the seething anger tbh. In a leader I want someone who’ll allow me to embrace all parts of me while excelling at my job - whether I want to dress in a traditionally feminine way or power-dress.

Why were you forced out after baby 1? Not surprised you’re angry about it. But also not sure you need to carry the anger forward into your current employer/situation.

@astronewt - It doesn't have to be profitable on a buy/sell basis. Even if the demand is niche, it can be done on a rental basis, which also makes it sustainable. And just because it's structured, doesn't mean it has to be confining. And yes, I think I can negotiate a good package, but there's no doubt that current policy and culture makes that harder for pregnant women, than non-pregnant women.

@Delphinium20 I'm hearing this a lot from peers. We're not alone!

@Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink Nothing wrong at all with wearing floral or jersey stretch in the boardroom. My point is that there is a chronic lack of choice and representation in fashion and media, which I believe in turn reflects culture, expectations and corporate policy.
And I'm angry, like many other women, that policy and culture is still exclusionary toward women in the work place. We don't yet have parity with men and I'm channeling that anger into driving positive change by speaking out. Likewise, I look for broad world views, inclusiveness and passion in my leaders 😉

OP, you're right that we technically can wear floral to the board room, but our lack of parity means we know, as women, we have to try harder to look the part.

I bought some nice bits from Seraphine, Isabelle Oliver, and Hatch. I think one or two of them do rental too, and Hatch was designed to be worn post baby too. Buying the next size up in blazers also works generally if the bump is pretty much all forward.

The attitude is absolute bollocks though. I've also been best at my job whilst pregnant and therefore ruthlessly efficient to get everything done in time. Unfortunately not everyone will be good so it's the same as anything that takes an employee out the business - a faff to manage and open to abuse by people who want to abuse it. Personally I still believe that the right person will be worth it over the long term so is worth the extra faff of maternity leave.