By Hua Wang (Chicago)
Dubbed the ‘opt out revolution’ by the New York Times, the phrase refers to the mass exodus of highly educated professional women from the workforce when they become mothers. These women presumably made a conscious choice to forgo earnings for the luxury of raising their children themselves. Is the opt-out [...]
‘Work-Life Balance’ Category
Examining Education and Economics – What ‘Opt Opt’ Revolution?
Three Things Professional Women Should Know About Nannies
By Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)
Once upon a time nannies were only for the über-rich, but, for some, times have changed. For many working parents forced to put in long hours at the office, nannies have become an essential and irreplaceable part of the family; someone entrusted with the well being of their child.
If you have [...]
Dual Career Couples – Tips for Making It Work
By Gigi DeVault (Munich)
Have you seen Up in the Air? The camera cuts to the interior of a hotel bar. We see two women sitting over drinks. Worldly, successful, confident, Alex Goran has scooped up the pieces of the broken young Turk-ette, Natalie Keener, who has just received a “Dear Jane” text message from her [...]
Changing the Game: Ending the War on Moms
By Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)
In her book The War on Moms: On Life in a Family-Unfriendly Nation, author Sharon Lerner is spot-on when she writes, “To say there is a sinister plot against American women is both overblown and exactly right.” She was also right in her astute observation that giving birth is the new [...]
Incentivizing the Return to the Office after Childbirth
By Kate McClaskey (New York City)
Being family friendly means more than just offering services to new parents. It means taking investment steps towards providing financial incentives for new parents to return to work – and stay there.
According to the May 2004 Current Population Survey, 27.5 percent of wage and salary workers had flexible work schedules. [...]
Lawyer or Mom: Choose Only One?
Contributed by Amy Impellizzeri (New York City)
As the confirmation hearings on Elena Kagan conclude, one question remains unanswered. What does Kagan’s nomination mean for American lawyer moms?
While the nomination of Kagan has been lauded as groundbreaking – setting the stage for three women sitting on the Supreme Court for the first time in [...]
Technology Helps Work/Life Balance: It’s Official
By Elizabeth Harrin (London)
What does your boss think about giving you gadgets for work? And what do you think about carrying around a smart phone or BlackBerry? While it might feel like technology means you are chained to the office – even when you aren’t actually there – new research shows that gadgets actually have [...]
How to Manage Your Maternity in the Workplace: Taking Control of Your Career Before and After Maternity Leave
Contributed by Chris Parke, MD of Talking Talent, an expert on workplace maternity issues.
We often hear about women struggling to maintain the momentum of their careers through parenthood. The transition through maternity and the return to work can be fraught with anxieties and a feeling of not being in control. A successful maternity or adoption [...]
Paying the Price: Work/life Issues Most Challenging for Women in Investment Banking
By Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)
Those who’ve been immersed in the world of investment banking for years know all too well that it’s an incredibly difficult, demanding, and time-consuming career path that requires making sacrifices on a very personal level. As if that’s not asking enough of one person, some troubling information has come to light [...]
The Unexpected Stay-at-Home Mom
By Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)
Many working mothers agonize over their decision to spend long hours at the office while their children are being taken care of by full-time nannies. Under these circumstances, there are often feelings of guilt as well as self-doubt. While walking out the door, many women are left wondering if they’re going [...]





