In 2018, the workplace experience for pregnant employees was still far from equitable. Prior to the establishment of maternity leave, expectant mothers often faced mistreatment and were even dismissed simply for being pregnant. Recently, a woman shared a shocking letter her mother received from her school’s board of education in the 1960s, shedding light on this troubling history.
Twitter user Sarah Johnson posted a letter that her mother received in 1969, which denied her request for maternity leave, sparking widespread conversation. “My mom held onto this,” she wrote. “It serves as a testament to the unfair treatment women endured. ‘You’re pregnant? You’re out.’
The letter read in its entirety:
Dear Mrs. Johnson,
We regret to inform you that we must regard your request for a Leave of Absence as a termination effective December 31st, 1969. This decision is necessary as our Board does not currently approve maternity leave. When you are ready to return, please inform our office of your availability for another teaching position.
Thank you for your service as a member of our staff.
Maternity leave was not legally recognized as a comprehensive benefit for working mothers until 1971 in Canada and shockingly not until 1993 in the United States, when the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted. Historically, women have often been viewed as disposable employees simply due to their gender and motherhood.
In 1972, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission established guidelines mandating that pregnancy-related disabilities, such as miscarriage or childbirth recovery, be treated like other temporary disabilities. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 prohibited discrimination based on pregnancy and related medical conditions; however, neither law guaranteed time off for recovery or care of a new child, primarily due to patriarchal structures.
Women across social media shared their own experiences in response to Mrs. Johnson’s letter, many recounting similar stories of discrimination. While significant strides have been made in protecting the rights of pregnant workers today, issues still persist. Family leave options in the U.S. remain woefully inadequate, and many existing laws do not prevent companies from treating pregnant employees unfairly or even terminating them.
This letter serves as a stark reminder of the past, highlighting how expendable pregnant workers were seen. Although we have made progress regarding maternity leave policies, it is evident that there is still much work to be done.
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In summary, while the treatment of pregnant women in the workforce has improved, the historical context of their struggles serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for better protections and policies.