The Support Group for Working Mothers at Mason is one way Mason faculty, staff, and students can come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and perhaps motivate changes on campus. During the academic year, the support group meets every other week at noon in the Women and Gender Studies Center, Room 240K of the Johnson Center. The group meets less frequently over the summer.
The brown bag lunches are available to women interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers. Working mothers face unique issues, and coming together over lunch fits schedules and allows members to discuss their experiences in a friendly, nonjudgmental environment. Group members work full time or part-time, raise their children with a partner or alone, are the major breadwinners or sole benefit providers, and many are also working students. With long commutes and a 'second job' that begins when they walk in the door, it's clear they have lots of demands to balance and lots of roles to juggle.
Participation is open to anyone in the Mason community who is interested in sharing experiences with other women having common work-life interests. For more information, please contact Heather Aleknavage at haleknav@gmu.edu or (703) 993-2295.
Currently, The Working Moms group is beginning campaign for Faculty Parental Leave with other partners across campus. The following are links to resources and their progress with this campaign.
Fact Sheet on Break Time for Nursing mothers Under FLSA (U.S. Department of Labor)
State Laws on Breast Feeding (Virginia)
Women and Gender Studies Resource Center
Johnson Center, Room 240K
Spring 2019 Meetings 12:00pm-1:00pm
Thursday, January 24
Wednesday, February 6
Tuesday, February 19
Wednesday, March 6
Thursday, March 21
Tuesday, April 2
Thursday, April 25
Wednesday, May 8