Historically, mothers play a significant role in our lives: from giving life, to tending young children and to supporting us into adulthood. Women from all around the world have known how it is to juggle many roles and responsibilities. In these modern times, mothers are also balancing their jobs while primarily raising their family. The work seems to never end–even in partnerships with an equal division of household and financial labor.
The emotional and physical labor of keeping a family in order often goes underappreciated when talking about motherhood. Celebrating Mother’s Day has become a holiday for children worldwide to show their love and appreciation for their mothers.
Originally, Mother’s Day was a holiday in Europe where Christians would return to their “mother church” on the fourth Sunday during Lent. Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, activist of women’s rights, is responsible for establishing Mother’s Day as the holiday we know today taking inspiration from her mother who organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health. Later on, the holiday became so commercialized that Jarvis spent the rest of her life and money trying to remove the holiday from being celebrated.
In contemporary society, significant progress has been made in gender roles across various cultures, with the rise of non-traditional family structures alleviating some childcare responsibilities. Despite these changes, numerous studies indicate that women predominantly serve as primary caregivers for their families and parents. Women comprise over 75% of unpaid caregivers and invest 50% more time in caregiving than men. The economic impact of their caregiving efforts is substantial, amounting to at least 148 billion dollars annually, often resulting in hundreds of dollars in lost income for these women.
These mothers sacrifice a lot for their family and are the backbone of their communities. Emulating their neverending compassion, we look up to these women when providing care for others. We hope that every month, besides May, you are able to show appreciation to your mother or mother figure!
