It is the age of the “Super Mom.” Women are called on to play every role and are convinced we have to. In the pre WWII era women played the role of homemaker. We were expected to keep the home polished, cook for the family, serve our husbands and stay quiet. So much has changed. Women have transformed and society has transformed because of it. Women’s rights have improved but we are still left with a western culture that caters to male dominance. While we may think women are breaking through the glass ceiling we are still being sexualized and pulled to extreme limits to keep up with our male counterparts.
There is an expectation that women have to be able to have children, raise well rounded children, have a successful career, maintain a healthy lifestyle, spend time with friends, have a social life, nurture friendships for young children, care for aging parents, clean the house, cook dinner, maintain a strong relationship with a partner, maintain sanity and keep learning and growing and more! It all seems so out of wack and unrealistic. How are women supposed to be the wholesome being society wants us to be and be sane through it all? Through these unrealistic expectations women have found a way to make it work. Although doing one thing consistently at 100% seems like a dream one thing has made the age of the Super Mom possible…technology.
The Age of the Super Mom
The Super Mom can be defined as the woman that makes life happen for her and her family. A step up from Superwoman, she not only magically maintains a life and sanity but her children are growing just fine. Technology has improved the lives of women by allowing them to keep in touch with friends, order food online or get 20 minute recipes online, order clothes, shoes, keep up with news and fashion, vacuum a house using small robots, book nights out with their partner and get a babysitter in the process. It has even allowed her to improve her education with online degrees, digital books, educational videos and apps that improve thinking skills and help to navigate life’s needs.
The Super Mom also lives on the edge of the expectations of society by holding her own, knowing what she is capable of and not capable of. They tend to define their reality on their own terms and not by what society deems appropriate. Through the use of technology they have also found their voice. When another mom is shamed for breastfeeding in public or women are objectified in distasteful ways they speak up and hit social media outlets to tell the world they exist and what they have to say matters. According to the Moms and Media (Edison Research 2013) research study moms are mobile and digitally savvy multitaskers which spend over a third of their time engaging online resources and apps to balance life. “95% of moms own a cellphone, with 64% owning a smartphone. And she keeps it close — 89% reported that the smartphone is always or most of the time within arm’s length vs 74% for regular cell phone moms.”
As society shifts so do the women that make the world go around, the care takers, money makers, and policy shakers. Women do not wake up and decide they are going to tackle the world head on they just do it. With technology on her side the Super Mom is a force to be reckoned with!
Author:
Priya Nembhard is Co-founder of Moms Pump Here. Moms Pump Here is an app that helps nursing mothers locate a safe and private place to breastfeed or breastpump. You can get the Moms Pump Here app on iTunes today.