Ep 43 - Why are working women still paying a penalty for having children? Meet the woman taking maternity discrimination to task.

everywoman Podcast

Two days after she told her employer that she was pregnant with her first child, Joeli Brearley was sacked from her job by voicemail. It was an abrupt end to a successful role, and she soon realised that her experience was not unique. The ‘motherhood penalty’ is one faced by many women through pregnancy and maternity discrimination, yet current legislation does not protect women. Joeli launched Pregnant Then Screwed in 2015, as a space for mothers to share their stories and today the charity is dedicated to ending the systemic, cultural and institutional discrimination faced by thousands of pregnant women and mothers every year. In this episode she discusses the barriers, disincentives and disingenuities of current legislation and how these intersect with societal expectations to create the perfect storm for mothers who work.