MP Stella Creasy Called Out UK House Of Commons For Not Allowing Her To Bring Her Baby To Work
For decades, women have had to choose between motherhood and a career. Many women from the previous generations would opt to focus and prioritize their duties as a mother and wife over being independent and having a successful career. However, things are gradually changing as more and more women are breaking the glass ceiling and taking on powerful positions while still raising their children. However, many workplaces are still not fully supportive of such women as there are still debates around paid maternity leaves, daycares within the workplace, or even having enough pay for the employee to hire any sort of help. These topics were again brought under the spotlight as Labour MP Stella Creasy publicly called out House of Commons’ authorities for being reprimanded for bringing her infant to the parliament as she spoke on Tuesday.
Apparently Parliament has written a rule which means I can’t take my well behaved, 3-month old, sleeping baby when I speak in chamber. (Still no rule on wearing masks btw).
Mothers in the mother of all parliament are not to be seen or heard it seems….#21stCenturyCalling pic.twitter.com/rKB7WbYQrL
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) November 23, 2021
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MP Stella Creasy posted the notice she got for bringing her son to the House of Commons, where she was speaking and said that this has not been a problem on previous occasions. The Commons rule specifies that MPs are not allowed to have their children with them when they enter. However, Creasy says that this hasn’t been an issue when she took her baby in before. Stella Creasy tweeted the email she received from the Commons authorities which read, “We have been made aware that you were accompanied by your baby in Westminster Hall earlier today.”
The email also pointed out the recent changes to the rules of behaviour and courtesies in the House of Commons, which is a handbook for the MPs that states that an MP should not take their seat with their child on them.
Many women came to Stella Creasy’s defence on Twitter and spoke about the regressive workplace policies that don’t support working mothers.
https://twitter.com/Harlescott2021/status/1463295580042633229?s=20
Here’s my baby, at @Boo_HQ office. This did not trigger the apocalypse.
Please also note the @LivingWageUK logo – it’s so nice being one of the good guys 💜@stellacreasy @PregnantScrewed #stellacreasy pic.twitter.com/NUJFxirWLo— Amy Rothwell (@Boo_Global) November 25, 2021
Stop gaslighting Stella Creasy. MPs don’t get maternity leave. No one covers her role serving constituents. What’s she meant to do?
I used to park my baby’s pram out of shot to do national media interviews. As a Mum you do what you can, you do your best, and it’s hard work.
— Dr Julia Grace Patterson💙 (@JujuliaGrace) November 24, 2021
"You should not take your seat when accompanied by a child". The specific wording says it all. Well women won't tolerate this silencing of motherhood anymore. Thanks for battling on against all this absolute bull, @stellacreasy https://t.co/RI3iVvASOA
— Hannah Fearn (@hannahfearn) November 24, 2021
It is great to see so many women come ahead and speak out about their personal experiences and support each other in making the world a more inclusive place. MP Stella Creasy, in my opinion, did the right thing by calling out these regressive notions. Considering the fact that these rules were made at a time when workplaces were mostly filled with men who weren’t (and still aren’t) expected to care for their own children. Now that women are out being badass and having it all, it is high time we are more supportive of them!
