The Power of ONEsies

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The pair tapped their knowledge and experience to move mothers to make social, political, and cultural change. Via house parties, where people view a documentary version of The Motherhood Manifesto, and e-mail “outreaches” that can be passed along easily to other potential supporters, MomsRising.org built a membership base that has grown to more than 140,000 people.

They also gathered as allies 85 national and state organizations: faith groups, child advocacy groups, unions, health care organizations, parenting groups, family advocacy groups, women’s organizations, and mothers’ organizations.

Members take actions called for in one or more e-mail messages each week. Sometimes this involves signing a petition to support a piece of legislation, such as the Healthy Families Act, the Fair Pay Restoration Act, or the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. Other times it involves actually visit­ing a congressperson’s local office or even participating in a campaign like the popular “Power of ONEsie” display of decorated baby onesies in front of the Washington state capitol to promote paid family leave.

Members also send memorable e-cards to their friends to encourage them to join the group and read and comment on the website’s blogs. These moms have shared numerous stories of job loss and demotions imposed on them when they needed, for example, a less rigid work schedule, acceptance of pregnancy on the job, the same competitive wage others in comparable positions were receiving, or breast-feeding support, such as privacy to pump milk for a newborn. Their stories usually end with a plea for help in changing the American workplace to embrace the less tangible needs of mothers (and every human being) for connecting, caring, reciprocity, and love.

Devising workable policies in service of this aim lies at the heart of the MomsRising platform. Few Americans would be anything but grateful if the organizations in which they labor could help them realize synergy between their work and nonwork lives.

For those who find this mission compelling and urgent, MomsRising.org offers the opportunity to amplify their voices and engage in the nation’s political dialogue. A mom at home can become a naptime activist; a mom at work can become a lunchtime activist. Their conversation in the MomsRising virtual kitchen has new power to move their issues and those of their families from the back burner to the front—even if a mother is still a little tired.

Nanette Fondas is on the executive team of MomsRising.org. She has written on the economics and sociology of work, family, and management, and has taught at Harvard, Duke, and the University of California, Berkeley. Reprinted from Tikkun(July-Aug. 2008), a magazine of politics, spirituality, and culture; www.tikkun.org.

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