Unsung heroine of corporate world – the single mom

28 September 2012 04:32 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Recent media reports announced that divorces in Sri Lanka have risen to 300 a day, making it a high figure for a country with an ageing population. Somewhere in the midst of those break-ups are courageous single mothers, who suddenly find that they have to fend for themselves and their children.

Whether in the West or the East, the reality of today’s society is the legacy of mothers who have to steer the ship of life alone. Often, they do not have economic or emotional support, having to work and take care of the children. In Sri Lanka, there are many single mothers out there who do their bit in the corporate world. They have stories to share but they have above all, to shoulder responsibility, keep the home fires burning and cater to the needs of growing children.

Support network
It is never easy being a single mother – it is twice as hard being a single mother who has to work. In many ways, the work helps to pay the bills but also to add value to someone who may have faced trauma and abuse at the hands of her former spouse. A career often empowers a single mother, according to experts, enabling her to achieve her optimum potential.

In Sri Lanka, we are fortunate to have a support network of family and relatives who can be a tremendous help in taking care of the kids. Such a supportive structure can only empower a single mother and motivate her to give her best to her career and to herself. Of course, not everyone has access to such supportive structures and some have had to struggle to balance everything just rightly so.

Sri Lanka also happens to be an ageing society which adds a burden on top of single moms who must stretch themselves to make ends meet. We still have leftovers of social stigma and dogmatic issues that tend to cast single mothers striving for social equality, in a negative light. Yet, among the scores of corporate ranks, silent but efficient single mothers hold responsible positions and count themselves as important wheels that keep the corporate machinery going.

Multitasking women
In a perfect world, single mothers working in the corporate environment would have better child support facilities but unfortunately, that is not the case here in Sri Lanka, at least not yet. We like to pay lip service to concepts that are new to us such as mothers working from home and single mothers with access to office-based childcare facilities but we really haven’t tested them out yet.

Although there are hundreds of mothers who work from home, the concept is still not widely accepted and proven within the larger corporate culture. Online commuting is a popular and a powerful concept in the developed world but we still have to see it deliver effectively here at home.

Single mothers, who work, benefit from a strong support network of childcare, flexi-timing and work sharing. Again, they that are new to us but they are concepts that can be tested, nevertheless.

What we need is organised and disciplined outputs that ensure that no matter where you are or what takes place, the work gets done. In a sense, running a home involves similar disciplines. Women as we all know by now, can multi-task easily and do their best when running several tasks simultaneously, be it cooking, supervising homework or planning next day’s work.

Challenging conditions
Single motherhood, whether by choice or chance, is tough to handle no doubt. Not having a supportive spouse can be trying, especially when it comes to balancing the work-home roles. It is tougher when as a worker she has to face intimidation, sexual advances or simply the kind of vulgar behaviour some of our men reserve for divorced women and single mothers in the workplace. It takes a tough exterior and a tougher mindset to deal effectively with such challenging conditions. It also takes determination, courage and a singular focus on overcoming it all.

What single mothers need is unconditional support, whether at home or in the workplace; the kind of well-meaning support CEOs, supervisors, managers and colleagues can lend. Recognising the contribution of these women and empowering them to attain their goals in life, is the ultimate gift any organisation can give.
Female headed households are on the increase around the world, due to various reasons. Such households do not have father figures who can inspire the children but place a tremendous burden on the mother to fulfill both roles. For most of them, their work is their lifeline that adds much value to their self-worth. And it is time for the corporate world to acknowledge them for who they are – courageous women who are determined to see themselves and their children through.
(Nayomini, a senior writer, journalist and a PR professional can be contacted at nayominiweerasooriya@gmail.com)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Unsung heroine of corporate world – the single mom

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

New Visa procedure implemented

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Suspicious death of 23-year-old woman at hotel sparks concerns

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win