Glasgow parents are set to protest in George Square this weekend as part of a national action calling for more support for mothers and families.
Organised by Pregnant Then Scared, the march is to highlight issues that affect families across the country, with 11 cities joining in and asking the UK government to prioritise childcare and parental issues.
While everyone is encouraged to wear Halloween fancy dress, the protests are fighting for more serious matters. Pregnant Then Scared believe there are three main issues impacting families - quality and affordable childcare, flexible working, and properly paid parental leave.
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The organisation said: “Mothers are forced out of the labour market by an economy that does not recognise the value of unpaid care they provide.
“There are specific mechanisms that underpin our economy - childcare, parental leave policies and working patterns - that reinforce gender stereotypes about who performs care and lead to a gender pay gap and low participation by mothers in the labour market. We want to see that change so that mothers can benefit from the economy as much as anyone else and so that dads can play a greater role in caring for their children.
“Childcare providers are falling like dominos, mothers are dropping out of the workforce in droves, the gender pay gap increased in 2021, and more families are now living in poverty.
“These are political choices made by our government and the only way we make them listen is if we organise. On Saturday October 29, we will be marching in 11 cities across the UK to demand that the Prime Minister prioritise; childcare, parental leave and flexible working.”
March of the Mummies hopes to shine a light on what they feel is an ‘appalling record’ of family care. They added: “We have the second most expensive childcare system in the world due to years of underfunding from our government.
“We have the third worst ranking maternity pay, and the least generous paternity pay, in Europe. Mothers face a pay penalty of 45% lower earnings in the six years after giving birth.
“Three in four job adverts fail to mention flexible working, yet 82% of Brits want to work flexibly.”
Each march is family friendly, and while the protests address serious matters they will be joined with face painters and music.
The first ever March of the Mummies took place in October 2017, with six cities across the UK and one in California taking part. Other locations this year include London, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Belfast, Cardiff, Exeter, Norwich, Bristol, Newcastle and Birmingham.
You can find out more and register for a spot at the Glasgow event here.
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