The 'second shift'.

Byline: Saba Karim Khan

IT would not be surprising if the term 'working mother' - a professional woman with children - is viewed negatively in the future. Working women are short-changed and in the pecking order of discrimination, they are hit the hardest. On the other hand, the second set of reactions implying the 'wasted lives' of stay-at-home mothers is equally irksome. It's hardly surprising that for women, the myth of 'having it all', is inescapable. The ideal woman is one who rises to a Fortune 500 CEO whilst remaining a committed mother.

The half-truths we are fed exacerbate this fairytale. If you dream big, if you are committed, if you marry the right partner, if you perfectly sequence your life by pursuing the endless hypotheticals, everything is possible. The result: women blame themselves for not advancing as fast as men, raising enviable families, and striking the perfect work-life balance. In fact, the issue flows much deeper. Women are brought up to believe that the onus of sacrifice lies on them, so when the time arrives, the expectation isn't questioned.

Navigating the polar worlds of home and office simultaneously isn't uncomplicated. Along with paid jobs the 'second shift' - child-raising and homemaking - demands equal tenacity. For working women, both are imperatives. According to a study analysing 11 indicators of stress, working mothers are 18 per cent more stressed than others. The stress level spikes to 40pc for women with two children.

Women blame themselves for not advancing as fast as men.

In Pakistan, this burden exacerbates for two reasons: 'mommy tax', which surfaces once women embark on parenthood, is coupled with patriarchal norms. The epidemic of the 'motherhood penalty' kicks in as early as women disclosing their pregnancy. Recruitment hinges on first impressions, hence mentioning that you are a mother, or pregnant, during the hiring process, can lead to assumptions about juggling too many balls. I remember withholding information about my pregnancy when I interviewed for my current job, despite it being a Western institution. The fear of being viewed as a liability is real.

Maternity policies are flaky, involving insufficient leave, pay cuts and a perception fallout impossible to measure. Requests for flexible hours, working from home or the inability to relentlessly travel impact work prospects and often result in a lowered probability of being tasked with big assignments. Intervals to return to a career...