Sports presenter Erin Molan joins women fighting back over ‘mum shaming’
Sports presenter Erin Molan has joined the growing band of Aussie mothers speaking out against the “mum shaming” they are receiving, saying she has been accused of neglecting her young daughter.
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A growing number of Aussie mums are speaking up about being shamed by other women for working too hard.
Sports presenter Erin Molan is the latest celebrity to talk about “mum shaming”, revealing she has been accused of neglecting daughter Eliza.
“I work incredibly hard to support my family and to provide a future for my daughter,” she told radio listeners.
“I got an email a couple of weeks ago from a lady saying she thinks I put money first, then myself, then my daughter, because I work.
“A lot of things that I get hurt my feelings a little bit … but that one really upset me because I work very hard but I also structure my work so my daughter is my priority. She comes first.”
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Molan added that the criticism always comes from other women.
“This is from other women. I have not once received anything nasty from a male regarding what I do and how hard I work,” she said.
“Some of the correspondence I receive — from people who have absolutely no idea what my home arrangement is — is so offensive and so vile.”
Last week presenter Deborah Knight was trolled on social media for working too much.
“I would love to spend way more time than I do with the kids but unfortunately, the reality is, I’ve got to work to make a living,” she said.
“And I shouldn’t have to apologise for that. I’m flabbergasted that working hard is something that is considered a negative.”
Hollywood star Jessica Simpson also faced the wrath of the trolls yesterday when she posted a photograph of her daughter’s dyed hair.
And experts say the critics don’t spare everyday mums either.
Psychologist Leanne Hall said the issue was widespread and had increased with the advent of social media.
“Everyone’s making comments about their kids so the need to compare has increased. A lot of critics are other mothers who are feeling insecurity and judging other people helps them feel better,” she said.
“The reality is everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect and we are all doing the best we can. We need to stop buying into the image of the perfect mother.”
Dr Hall said working mothers were the most heavily targeted.
“We have this view that if mums are working they are being selfish. It’s a hangover from the ‘60s,” she said.
“We’ve come a long way but to some extent we are still living in this era that women need to be at home after they have kids.”
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