BY MABI
Becoming a mother changes everything but what doesn’t seem to change fast enough is how the world treats women when they try to return to work. Across the globe, new
mothers face an uphill battle – juggling recovery, childcare, and a career that doesn’t wait. Yet in countries like Nepal, motherhood is often glorified about how a mother can sacrifice all her things for her baby, and they still expect mothers/women to bounce back fast, perform like nothing’s changed, and still be perfect mothers at home. It’s not just about balancing- it’s about surviving unrealistic expectations.
And if we began the talk on paid maternity leave , it’s pathetic. From the U.S., where paid maternity leave isn’t guaranteed, to countries with generous policies but inflexible work cultures and let’s not even get started to talk about Nepal’s maternal paid leave. As per Civil Service Rules (Rule 59) female employees in government (civil service) jobs are entitled to the 60 days of paid maternity leave, which can be taken before and/or after delivery. And if we talk about NGO or INGOs, there’s no strict provision for it.
Workplaces worldwide often don’t account for what returning mothers truly need: flexible hours, affordable childcare, supportive management, and protection against bias. Even in countries with strong leave laws, women often find themselves sidelined or seen as “less committed.” One report by McKinsey found that women globally are 1.5x more likely than men to leave the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities.
The recent case of global icons like Deepika Padukone, who reportedly asked for an 8-hour shift post-baby and was replaced, or Serena Williams, who returned to tennis just months after giving birth and still faced judgment. On TV, the sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah provides another example. Actress Disha Vakani (who played the beloved “Daya behen”) took maternity leave in 2017 and famously never came back to the show. Some employers even hesitate to hire women fearing future leaves, which is discriminatory but common. These aren’t isolated stories – they mirror the silent struggles of millions of women across sectors, from corporate offices to classrooms to hospitals.
Instead of glorifying the motherhood , its a high time to move beyond simply offering
maternity leave to building cultures that welcome mothers back. By normalizing flexible
work, enforcing maternity benefits, promoting shared parenting, and shifting cultural
mindsets, we can make the transition smoother. Moms shouldn’t have to be “superhuman” to stay in the workforce.Because returning to work shouldn’t feel like a test of endurance. It should feel like a comeback with the support every mother deserves.