For the future

The European delegation of the World Mothers Movement (MMM Europe), a Brussels-based NGO, conveyed the findings of the Survey of Mothers in Europe 2011. The survey highlights the concerns of 11,000 mothers in 16 European countries, their priorities and the recommendations on their wellbeing and that of their family. The survey was conducted after MMM Europe’s invitation to participate in the Seventh Family Platform initiated by the European Commission (www.familyplatform.eu). “MMM Europe” has drawn up a “Survey of Mothers in Europe” along with a report on the survey carried out on families from the viewpoint of the mothers. Further information is available by logging on www.mmmeurope.org.Being a mother. The final report on the survey titled “What matters to mothers in Europe”, sheds light on some revealing facts regarding European mothers. In fact, becoming a mother is such a change of priorities that mothers wish to speak in their name, as mothers. There is an impressive cohesion in the opinions of the mothers of Europe, from London to Budapest and Stockholm to Madrid! The opposition between “mother at home” and “employed mother” seems outdated. It is the same woman who wishes to both be active on the labor market and have time for her children. Speaking in their own names. Although they represent 76% of women over 18 years in Europe, mothers are hardly recognized by their Government as a separate target with specific function and identity. More rarely still do they have the opportunity to talk about their priorities concerning essential political subjects which have a direct impact on them and their families. The investigation of MMM Europe gave European mothers the opportunity to express themselves. MMM Europe asks European politicians to create dialogue opportunities with mothers, and Governments to take into account the views of mothers by creating social policies beneficial to parents, children and society in general. Some requests. Respondents ask that their Governments take measures that will help mothers control and improve the balance between employment and family life . In particular, they ask “prioritizing time to spend time with their children (especially those still at home), providing more flexible daycare solutions, including company daycare centers at work sites; offering more flexibility in work schedules to reflect school hours and holidays; providing more part-time employment opportunities; Emphasizing family-friendly companies; increasing the length of maternity/parental leaves”. Moreover, “surveyed mothers want more official recognition of those parents who stay at home (part or full time) to take care of their children. They would like more benefits and to have economically feasible options, including an outsourced care solution or an in-family care solution”. Furthermore, European mothers “request more recognition” of the importance of “family care” and of the roles of mother and father in society. They also request that families “be recognized as a major resource for the entire society and as a source of social cohesion. By raising their children, mothers and fathers are working for the future of our society”.At home and in the workplace. A majority of responding mothers want to be both active on the labor market and to have time to care for their children particularly when they are under school-age. Mothers’ preference in time use is linked to the age of children (see graph3): When child(ren) are under school age, the vast majority prefer to care full-time for them. When child(ren) are at obligatory school age (6 to 18 years old), they favour part-time work. And when child(ren) are more than 18, they desire to work full-time. Mothers across Europe share the same priorities about the well being of their family: they emphasize the need for healthy relationships (violence free) and time optimization to meet their family’s needs. Challenges and priorities. For Anne-Claire de Liedekerke, President of MMM Europe, “These new findings and statistics provide an opportunity to European policy makers to respond with appropriate legislation in favour of families and parents. he commonalities among mothers’ responses are striking in terms of challenges and priorities. This usually silent majority has to be listened to”. Jérôme Vignon, former director at the European Commission, in charge of European protection and social inclusion added: “the European survey, led by the Mouvement Mondial des Meres Europe with the participation of over 11 000 mothers and complemented by research, should attract the attention of the different European actors concerned by the problem of equality of opportunities to all citizens”.