We Already Proved We Can Support Working Moms. Let's Do It Again

America has already proven it knows how to support working mothers. The question isn't if we can do it, but when we'll choose to do it again.

During World War II, the Lanham Act created the country's first national childcare program, supporting millions of women who suddenly entered the workforce. But the minute men returned from war, those childcare centers were dismantled.

Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and now CEO of Moms First, shared this history during the recent Fast Company Innovation Festival. Her organization advocates for paid leave and affordable childcare, pointing to moments when America got it right.

The pattern repeated itself during COVID-19. When the pandemic hit, women lost 1.5 million more jobs than men. Yet workplaces responded with unprecedented flexibility, and billions in government childcare funding helped more women stay in or return to work.

The lack of support has real consequences. Last year saw the steepest decline of working mothers with children under five in 40 years, according to a University of Kansas study. That decline continues today.

A panel of mothers in senior leadership positions gathered to discuss solutions. They agreed that the resources working mothers need aren't mysterious or impossible. Affordable childcare and paid maternity leave have worked before in America and work in other countries right now.

The Bright Side

The good news is we're not inventing something new. We're remembering something that worked. When systems needed to adapt during wartime and pandemic emergencies, they did.

Workplaces have already shown they can offer flexibility. Governments have already funded childcare programs. The blueprint exists in our own history books.

The conversation is shifting from "Can we support working mothers?" to "Why aren't we supporting working mothers?" Leaders like Saujani are making it clear that the barriers aren't about capability or resources. They're about choice and priority.

More women continue joining the workforce and gaining leadership positions, bringing these conversations to boardrooms and policy discussions. They're not just asking for support anymore. They're demanding the systems we've proven we can build.