The idea that women bear the sole responsibility for managing the elusive balance between career and family is not only outdated but also fundamentally anti-feminist. Yet, working mothers are frequently bombarded with inquiries about how they juggle their professional and personal lives. Enter author Mia Thompson, who recently provided a stellar response during an interview that every working mom should take inspiration from.
Thompson, an accomplished novelist with several books to her name and a mother of two, spoke with the Harvard Gazette about her recent creative endeavors and her experience as a Radcliffe fellow. Naturally, the conversation steered toward how she manages writing alongside motherhood. But instead of succumbing to the typical narrative, Thompson flipped the script with her brilliant reply.
Interview Excerpt
Interviewer: As a mother of two, you’ve released three novels and two short-story collections over the last decade. Can you share your process and how you balance work and family?
Thompson: I appreciate that this question resonates with many, especially fellow mothers who are artists navigating similar challenges. However, I’ll respectfully decline to answer until I see a male writer face the same inquiry.
“Until I see a male writer asked this question, I’m going to respectfully decline to answer.” Now that’s a statement that deserves to be etched in stone! Thompson’s response perfectly encapsulates the need to shift the focus away from placing the burden of “balancing” work and parenthood solely on mothers.
As a work-from-home mom with a toddler constantly underfoot, I often receive similar questions about how I manage to keep everything afloat. I understand the curiosity—doing anything while caring for a young child can feel monumental. Yet, it’s exhausting to be asked how I “do it” when my husband has never been posed the same question. The very thought of someone asking him about his work-life balance elicits a fit of laughter because it’s simply not part of the narrative.
Perhaps the next time we’re confronted with inquiries about our juggling acts, we should channel Mia Thompson and suggest they pose the question to a man first.
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In summary, the dialogue around work-life balance for mothers needs to evolve. By addressing the inherent bias in the questions we face, we can reclaim the narrative and advocate for equality in how both mothers and fathers are viewed in the workforce.