Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author.

“Everyone knows that birds migrate but not which country they believe to be their own; the hard, hot, cloudless climate of the South or the fragile grey, white, warmth of our own claims. Perhaps the birds are simply lucky. They have the best of both worlds.”

Episode three had several storylines – centenary celebration planning; extreme difficulties with poverty and homelessness (alcoholism) and the tremendous emotional pains within their lives; a single black singer on the verge of opportunity whose life was altered by pregnancy; and, a kiss that changes everything for Matthew and Trixie.

I want to focus my blog post on the storyline of Julie and the impact of her pregnancy on her future plans. As a modern day midwife that storyline really struck me due to the changes over time for women’s rights and opportunities. We have come a long way; however, we still have so far to still go….

I decided to explore how many women did work outside of the home during the 1950s and 1960s. I found a document published by the US Department of Labor (1962). It reported that 16.5 million women were working in 1950 and this rose to almost 22.5 million in 1960 which was a gain of 35 percent. The number of female workers increased from 29% to 34% of all women during the time frame of 1950 to 1960. Women that were married made up 47% of all working women in the 1950s and this increased to 55% of all women workers in 1960. The proportion of married women who work jumped from 22% in 1950 to 31% in 1960. The rate of growth of women’s employment varied considerably by the State that they resided in. However, I did not find information or documentation regarding working women that were pregnant – they only stated if they were married.

Women’s labor force participation increased dramatically from the 1960s through the 1980s, before slowing in the 1990s (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). In 2019, 57.4 % of all women participated in the labor force which is below the peak of 60.0 % in 1999. The report documents how women’s involvement in the labor market has changed in several ways over the decades. Women are more likely to pursue higher education, more likely to work full time and year round, women with children have increased in the workforce, women’s earnings as compared to men has increased but there is still a gender equity gap. In 2019, women who worked full time in wage and salary jobs had median weekly earnings of $821, which represented 82% of men’s median weekly earnings ($1,007). As well, wages varied based on ethnicity, educational attainment, and occupation. Unfortunately, the gender gap in the United States has only expanded. In 2021, the U.S. failed to place in the top 10 — or even the top 25 — of the World Economic Forum's ranking of 156 countries based on gender equality. The US ranked 53^rd in 2020 and then improved to 30^th in 2021 (McCann, 2021). Even though women make up more than 50% of the population they only represent 27% of legislators and 25% of Fortune 500 board seats.

The labor force participation rate for women with children under 18 years of age was 72.4 % in March 2019. The rate for women with children under 6 years old was 66.4 %, and the rate for women with children under 3 years old was 63.8 %. When we look at father’s labor participation it remains fairly constant regardless of the age of their children (93.5 percent for men with children under 18 years). In March 2019, 78.2 % of unmarried mothers were in the labor force, compared with 70.1 % of married mothers.

Of pregnant women, 56% work full time during their pregnancy and 82% of first time pregnant women continue to work to within the month before their due dates. Most women (73%) return to work within 6 months after giving birth (US Census Bureau).When I moved to the US I was so stunned to learn that they were the only developed country that does not have a national paid maternity or parental leave program. This leaves many pregnant women and their families without job protection, health insurance benefits, or wages at such an important and vulnerable time.

Today, single-mom families account for a quarter of all U.S. households, at nearly 10 million. I found information from the US Census Bureau that reported the median income for a home led by an unmarried mom totaled $24,403 which was not even a third of the $84,541 for families headed by married parents. Also, solo-mom families are more likely than single-dad families to live under poverty. As well, child-care costs exceed the cost of rent in every state (2019).

I was so saddened in the episode that she stepped away from her dreams and felt she needed to get married to be respectable or that she had to give up on her singing dreams. My small amount of research led me to see we have come a long way but that we have quite a long way to still go!!

“The Nonnatus House centenary celebrations took place in gently falling rain. The people that loved it stood shoulder to shoulder in defiance of the elements determined to carry on and regardless the weather could not of been more perfect. Skies will always shift … seasons with them. Days become years … years become decades. Decades evolve into century and more and all the while our lives intertwine and then unspool; worn on the winds of time and aimed we know not where. But we know where we come from and where our hearts call home.”

RESOURCES

ACOG (2018). Employment considerations during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Committee Opinion No. 773. 

US Department of Labor (1962). Women workers in 1960-Geographical differences. Women’s Bureau Bulletin 284. Washington. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). Women in the labor force: a databook.

McCann, A. (2021). The Best and Worst States for Women’s Equality.