There are approximately 85 million mothers in the U.S of which 34 million are online. And this number is growing. The next generation of mothers is growing up digital. And mothers are
using technology along with social media to mobilize and effect change. All over America, grassroots change is happening with women/mothers standing up to everything from a child’s right to
recess to lobbying for family leave policies, fair pay, health care, gun control and more. There are so many resources and organizations along Twitter, Facebook, blogs, forums lending visibility
and sharing of issues and challenges facing us today.
We have more women in Congress than ever before -- 98 out of 535, and many of them are mothers. Women hold 5 of the 15
leadership positions in the House and five committee seats in the Senate with Nancy Pelosi holding the highest position as Speaker of the House. Mothers like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., are
helping to push through critical legislation like the Violence Against Women Act, which was recently passed, a critical step confronting the 1.3 million women who are assaulted every year. And on the
grassroots level, individuals like the PunditMom to organizations like MomsRising are driving forces contributing to change.
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There are a record number of mothers in the
workforce -- 70.6%. In fact, only 5 million of the 34 million moms online are stay-at-home moms. Women now hold over 50% of management and professional positions–yet only 21 women lead any of
the Fortune 500 companies. And secretary is still the top job for women.
Mother, aka the Chief Medical Officer, makes or influences 85% of all healthcare decisions but when it comes
to changing the landscape of healthcare only 4% of healthcare company CEO’s are women. The U.S is one of the few countries where mothers dying from pregnancy complications are on the rise and
the reason is directly correlated to lack of health insurance. There are task forces and growing movements like Half The Sky and Every Mother Counts fueled by mothers and women banding together to
create changes in policy and address the issues.
So what does this mean for brands and marketers?
It’s time for brands to take stands on issues like
Ben and Jerry’s, with their Get The Dough Out of Congress campaign or Yoplait’s Pink Campaign which is more than donations to breast cancer. Studies show motherhood triggers our desire to
create a better world and that we are more apt to support a brand that supports a cause. Brands need to remember mothers care.
Mothers are more than just moms. The depiction
of moms is often so stereotypical and not representative of who she is today. She has high expectations from corporate America and our government. Companies need to care not just about the products
they make and the services they sell, but diversity in the workforce, flexible work hours, fair employment practices, corporate responsibility and the things mothers and women care about today.
Brands who support her and the issues she cares about will get more of her share of wallet and her share of voice.