In March I wrote a post about how women are having fewer babies around the world, how this is creating a economic and culture crisis in some countries, and how our decision to have fewer children seems to be linked, in part, to our need for more family-friendly work policies.
(Phew! That was a mouthful. You can read more here.)
I mused about what would happen if, instead of quietly deciding not to have babies, we took this international Mommy Strike to the streets. What would we chant on the picket line?
I offered to send the first-ever (still to be designed) Working Moms Break mug to the person with the winning chant.
A bunch of people sent in their chants. This was back in March. And then I got busy with work. And we had more than the usual share of doctor appointments, and everyone got head lice, and I found out I need knee surgery, and…you get the picture.
But today, I’m coming up for air and I would like to announce the winner of the Mommy Strike slogan contest is…a dad named Eric!
Eric submitted several chants. This is the one my panel of judges (Read: me and my husband, Brian) liked the most:
We have the ability to kill our fertility!
Give us more power, or take a cold shower!
My husband also really liked this one:
The population’s look Peak-y
because us ladies won’t get Freak-y
Well done, Eric. Send me your address so I know where to mail your mug. (katrina [AT] workingmomsbreak [DOT] com)
The Mommy Strike slogan competition was stiff. Honorable mention to everyone who offered a slogan below. I’m including the original chants as well, so you’ll have the full list when you have to shout into that bullhorn.
International Mommy Strike Chants
From Momof2:
1,2,3,4 (he) why don’t we do it any more
5,6,7,8 (she) power point, pink eye, your dirty plate
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T-I-R-E-D, like, total-LY
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1,2,3,4 water cooler, vegas, commute no more
5,6,7,8 self employment’s really great
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Hey, hey, ho, ho, this proposal’s got to go
Me, me, my oh my, it’s finally quiet downstairs…sigh
From Poker Chick:
Mommies on strike. Mommies on strike. You won’t like…mommies on strike.
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Where do we live? AMERICA! Do we want to see our population die? HELL NO!!
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Do what’s right: help parents get a life!
From Stacy:
You can take this baby back! We don’t want the Mommy Track!
From kt moxie:
Will work for …
FOOD
Daycare
Equal pay
SLEEP!
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I found the glass ceiling.
I don’t live in a glass house.
I have a rock.
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I’d like to thank my supportive working environment and community for enabling me to be a successful working mom.
Why are you laughing?
From Eric:
We have the ability to kill our fertility
Give us more power or take a cold shower
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Looks like the next generation’s out of LUCK
because we’re killing the economy by refusing to _____.
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The population’s look Peak-y
because us ladies won’t get Freak-y
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If you want our loving touch
stop sucking so much
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Give me fair treatment, for goodness’ sake
or I’ll keep saying I have a headache
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Also, I have included the following, which relates more to mothers’ workplace problems than population issues:
C’mon Boss,
don’t be a jerk,
let me pump my milk at work!
(‘Boobs’ can be substituted for milk in this one, for added effect)
From Lucie:
I don’t know know but I’ve been told
The Western World is getting old
If good positions we can’t hold
No more babies; we’ll lock the mold.
From am:
Hell no, I won’t clean another dish
Hell no, I won’t mop another floor
You helped make them, now help take care of them!
From Brian:
No more baby boom!
I’m shuttin’ down this mama’s womb!
From Jess b.:
Make our system more like France
Or keep your penis in your pants!
From Emily S.:
Hey hey! Ho ho! Unpaid maternity leave has got to go!
From Jiya:
Less HOUSEWORK, more TEAMWORK!
From Stefanie:
Motherhood isn’t for sissies! (She submitted the photo above, which is from somewhere on the Isle of Wight.)
And the chants from my original post:
On strike!
Shut it DOWN!
My WOMB is now a union TOWN!
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Pay a mother what she’s WORTH
of forget about CHILDBIRTH!
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Give us schedules that are FLEX
or you get no procreative SEX!
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1-2-3-4 Pumping rooms need LOCKING DOORS!
5-6-7-8 We’re not going to REPLICATE!
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You don’t want to pay the PIPER?
You can change the baby’s DIAPER!
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What’s disgusting? MOMMY BUSTING!
What’s outrageous? PAY GAP WAGES!
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What do we want?
Flexibility, part time options, paid parental leave and sick days, and better on and off ramps!
When do we want it? NOW!
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Survey about working parents and stress is now closed. Thank you everyone who participated. I’m reading through the (more than 600!) responses and plan to post results soon.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hey! I won!