Growing up, the influential women who raised me all worked in the home. My mother, my grandmother’s, they had all dedicated their lives to either the men of the household, or the numerous children that they seemed unquestionably devoted to.
As I came of age and tried to find my career path at the tender age of 16 and 17 - when all these life-changing decisions seem to have to be made - it was my father who impressed upon me the importance of university and where that would take me in my generation. To me, Women’s History Month is a time where I reflect on the relative newness and complexity of having work both inside and outside of the home, and being relied upon heavily in both. I also know that while I, too, am unquestionably a devoted parent, I also am lucky. On one side of my family, university was not offered to the women, only the men. It seems both shocking and lucky that just one generation before me the expectations of others changed drastically, and just like that I could have a career if I wanted. Us Harrys typically don’t do things in halves. My sister chose medical school and I chose law school. Boy, did we change the path. Modeling for our Children Today, our five-year daughter proudly dressed up for “Career Day” at her school. She will never know a world where the choice is not the same for women and men, like it was in my family just one generation before. I frequently think about how our daughter sees my husband and I and what assumptions she might be making and what roles she may or may not associate with gender. I envy her that she simply may not know another way other than both parents work hard at their careers and in the home with her. I dream about what just “will be” for my daughter. How Far We Have Come When I arrived in Chicago over 12 years ago, I joined a Fantasy Football league with some friends I’d made. I wanted to immerse myself into American culture and I arrived at the start of the football season (back when the Bears were kind of, sort of, good). I somehow became the Commissioner of this league and it’s still running strong to this day. I also learned more about football than I perhaps ever cared to. Specifically, I learned of the “dual threat” quarterback, which is essentially a quarterback who can do so much more than “just” get into position and throw the ball to one of their zippy receivers or running backs. Working mothers are, I think, dual threats. We have broken out of a role that was labeled for us, and are surprising everyone by what else we can do and handle. To that extent, I feel like we are just getting started. Each day I amaze myself with what I am capable of. For example, I don’t think I can juggle a work commitment with my daughters' various activities (“is it gymnastics, ballet or swimming day?”), or I think the cross-over of work and parenting seems just too overwhelming, too hard. As dual threats, we have power and poise and unlocked potential. We will tell stories to our children’s children of how the pandemic halted our professional lives and created minimal boundaries in work and life. We will help our children navigate what their generation's “pandemic” will be and we will be amazed by all the things they do and juggle. For our part right now, let’s keep swinging for the fences. I am definitely a “go big or go home” person and I love surprising myself… and my daughter. Let’s see what's possible and keep forging this unknown path that is working mothers in 2024; and I think you’ll be amazed. –Kate Harry Shipham Comments are closed.
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AuthorKate Harry Shipham is the Principal of KHS People LLC, an executive search firm for BD and marketing people in professional services firms. Kate has done search and recruiting for 14 years and prior to that was an attorney. She loves what she does, and is always open to continuing the discussion: kate@khspeople.com Categories
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