It feels like a lot of celebrity women are talking about childcare, the cost of raising children, maternal mental health and the importance of family leave these days. Given that we’re only weeks away from Roe v. Wade being overturned (not to mention Griswold), it feels pointed to discuss how in America, it’s not an easy thing to carry a pregnancy to term and raise a child. The government doesn’t make it easy on women and families. It’s not like America is some utopia where pregnant women and mothers are brilliantly supported by society, local governments, state governments and federal governments. And guess what? It’s about to get a hell of a lot worse for millions of women. In the meantime, the Duchess of Sussex has joined the Marshall Plan for Moms.
Meghan Markle is speaking out for fellow moms. On Wednesday, the Duchess of Sussex shined a spotlight on the child care crisis in the U.S. — and how it’s not a family issue but a business issue. Meghan has joined the Marshall Plan for Moms in announcing a “National Business Coalition for Child Care,” that includes Meghan and Prince Harry’s Archewell Foundation, with the aim of expanding child care support for workers. The Marshall Plan for Moms is a movement to center mothers in the country’s economic recovery by advocating for policies that support moms.
“Families everywhere, and especially working moms, are asked to shoulder so much,” Meghan, 40, said in a statement. “This has only been heightened by the pandemic, with increased caregiving responsibilities, rising prices, and economic uncertainty.”
“As it’s been said many times, it takes a village to raise a child,” the mom of Archie, 3, and Lilibet, who turns 1 next month, added. “Today, we’re sending a message that childcare isn’t just a community imperative — it’s a business imperative. Creating a stronger workforce starts with meeting the needs of families.”
Marshall Plan for Moms was among a number of organizations that received donations in late 2021 from Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Foundation, it was announced when the family released their Christmas card. The card marked the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a family photo after welcoming daughter Lilibet.
Combined with overturning Roe and the inevitable overturn of Griswold, the fact that so many businesses don’t already have plans in place to support their female employees means that businesses never wanted to do this. It’s 2022, you know? While I admire Meghan’s work here and she’s completely right, this is so much bigger than a Marshall Plan for Moms. This is about employers trying to increase their supply of workers, which they consider expendable.
Photos courtesy of Instar, Backgrid.
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- USA Rights Only, The Hague, Netherlands – 20220416- The openings ceremony of the 2020 Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, at the Zuiderpark in The Hague. -PICTURED: Meghan Duchess of Sussex -PHOTO by: PPE/Nieboer/DDP/INSTARimages.com -INSTAR_ywJT2hHYS This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
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- North America Rights Only – The Hague, Netherlands -20220416-Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex attending the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge during the Invictus Games at Zuiderpark the Hague, Netherlands -PICTURED: Meghan Duchess of Sussex -PHOTO by: Aaron Chown/PA Image/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only – The Hague, Netherlands -20220416-Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex attending the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge during the Invictus Games at Zuiderpark the Hague, Netherlands -PICTURED: Meghan Duchess of Sussex -PHOTO by: Aaron Chown/PA Image/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- The Hague, NETHERLANDS – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for the Friends and Family reception during the 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague. The reception at the Invictus Games Park is hosted by the city of The Hague and the Dutch Ministry of Defence Pictured: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex BACKGRID USA 15 APRIL 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Hague, NETHERLANDS – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, on the Yellow Carpet ahead of the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games will take place from 16 to 22 April 2022 at the Zuiderpark and are intended for soldiers and veterans in the service who have been psychologically injured Robin Utrecht. Pictured: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 15 APRIL 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Hague, NETHERLANDS – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, on the Yellow Carpet ahead of the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games will take place from 16 to 22 April 2022 at the Zuiderpark and are intended for soldiers and veterans in the service who have been psychologically injured Robin Utrecht. Pictured: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 15 APRIL 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Hague, NETHERLANDS – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for the Friends and Family reception during the 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague. The reception at the Invictus Games Park is hosted by the city of The Hague and the Dutch Ministry of Defence Pictured: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex BACKGRID USA 15 APRIL 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Hague, NETHERLANDS – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Land Rover Challenge on Day 1 of the Invictus Games in The Hague, Zuiderpark, Netherlands. Pictured: Meghan – Duchess of Sussex – Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 16 APRIL 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- USA Rights Only, The Hague, Netherlands – 20220416- The openings ceremony of the 2020 Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, at the Zuiderpark in The Hague. -PICTURED: Meghan Duchess of Sussex -PHOTO by: PPE/Nieboer/DDP/INSTARimages.com -INSTAR_Dij2XmkjN This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
This is action, and so much better than yammering on about being “broody”.
That was my first thought!!! And more effective, probably
Ha! Now wondering what a Mumbles Plan for Mummies would look like…!
This is the way to advocate. Strategic alliances, actual money donated and using a prominent platform to amplify the issues and solutions. Things seem hopeless in many ways right now, but the war has to be fought and on all fronts. I admire the Archewell approach, so much.
@C-Shell, I’m impressed with the work done by the Archewell Foundation in just 2 years.
@Petra — activist philanthropy, like MacKenzie Scott’s and Melinda Gates’, always impresses me because it effectively targets issues that the public sector just can’t (or won’t). I feel like Archewell, Harry and Meghan are in this category, but they take it to another level. Maybe that’s because they have more personal celebrity and charisma, but they have inspired an entire category of fans to philanthropy as well. That kind of grass roots impact is a boon to all their chosen causes and charities.
Timely! Treasury Secretary stated outright, during a Congressional hearing this week, that this will have a devastating impact on the American economy and the health of women and children. When mothers earn more, finish they degrees and can plan children it’s better for the economy and the family. It’s proven economics.
The United States is founded on government of the willing. I’m no longer willing to have my rights, as a woman, be infringed upon or “overturned.” The government needs to wake up, because the populous that makes America is over it.
Businesses won’t have workers if childcare isn’t affordable. It’s cheaper to stay home than to work in many cases. Pushing the responsibility of assisting families with paying for childcare onto companies and corporations is a great way to force congress to legislate support.
“It’s cheaper to stay home than to work in many cases.”
Exactly. I’m sure many of us have heard at least one couple say that one parent is basically working to pay for daycare. And the burden on a single parent can be especially huge. This needs to be sorted out now.
How long before they accuse Meghan and Archewell of “encroaching on Kate’s territory,” lol.
In the words of Spider-Man uncle, with great power comes great responsibility and she completely gets that. Duchess mcbuttons should copy the work ethic and using her platform for helping and not only copy the clothes.
HOW DARE Meghan even mention children!!! She is pulling focus from The Duchess Catherine of Cambridge who has been keen to be interested in childhood development for 10 years, having done one, unscientific, 5 question survey that one time that lead to absolutely no action or change.
You forgot the Keen Cambridge Closet for Keenly Studying and Fixing Early Childhood blah blah .
Brava!
Wonderful… beautiful. Go squccess Meghan.
My employer- government agency- closed the childcare center it used to have. It closed prior to me working there. I tried to re-open it a few years ago. One of the dunces in charge- a woman- cited the Oklahoma bombing. The conversation was shut down. Even though the bombing occurred two decades before I asked for a workgroup to look at reopening it. And as far as I know OKC was the only time a gift agency was bombed. The chances are slim to none.
It was really disappointing
This is so timely. I think they are trying to appeal to economics because many politicians and businesses aren’t listening to the pleas for decency and sound public policy. This plan was in the works before the leak on overturning Roe, so hope it addresses the urgency of the situation. It seems like this crazy push to ban abortion, Burt control and punish women is to get them out of the workforce. It’s disheartening but policies like this are important. Meghan continues to work and support causes that are important to her and Archewell’s mission and she is consistent in that support for working mothers.