Mothers have to fight against various stop signs.

Carolina Müller-Möhl is the Chairwoman of the Board of the Müller-Möhl Group. Over 10 years ago, she founded the Müller-Möhl Foundation. In the foundation, she consolidates her extensive socio-political commitment to education and the better reconciliation of work and family life. Being actively involved in driving change and having a say is, for her, a unique privilege that should be taken advantage of, especially by women.

Mrs. Müller-Möhl, what is your view on the compatibility of career and family in Switzerland?

I know that we still struggle with this. There are various interconnected reasons that make the whole issue very complex. I see the causes on three levels: socio-cultural, systemic and the individual level of the woman herself.

Could you elaborate on that?

In Switzerland, we still have a very conservative understanding of roles between men and women. She is the homemaker, he is the breadwinner. This was just confirmed again by recent surveys of both genders and shows the problems on the socio-cultural level. When we talk about systemic issues, we are discussing the non-ideal conditions, such as the lack of and the too-expensive childcare spots, as well as the lack of comprehensive all-day schools and the negative employment incentives for women due to the current tax system.

And the individual level?

I mean the socialization that one experiences as a woman. This includes the societal norms already mentioned, the parental role model, and very banal things like the fact that Playmobil doesn’t produce pilot figurines. This may seem unimportant but has a decisive influence on the development, ambitions and goals of young women.

And the consequences are...

In Switzerland, although 76 percent of women are employed, more than half of them work in part-time jobs of less than 50 percent. This means that taxpayers’ money going into the education of these women, never results in a job. With very small workloads, it is hardly possible to really establish oneself in a profession.

This trend toward part-time work begins at the age of 30, when women become mothers for the first time, and increases with each additional child. However, the child ratio in Switzerland remains at 1.4.

This means that mothers who want to work more than just part-time must fight against these various stop signs and stereotypes. This requires a considerable amount of courage, a lot of perseverance and resilience. You must be able to continually motivate and push yourself.

Who influenced you as a child?

My sister and I would probably be referred to as “latchkey kids” today. We were very independent from an early age. Our parents, both 100 percent employed, exemplified equality to us. Both ran a practice together in our house, they went to congresses together, and took care of us children communally. In my memory, I was quite content with that.

You became a widow overnight due to a tragic event in 2000, suddenly had to take on a huge amount of responsibility, and threw yourself fully into professional life. Additionally, you became a person of public interest. How did you manage that?

It was extremely challenging. Looking back, I believe I succeeded because I was able to activate various strengths within me. I can make decisions very quickly and learned to solve problems as a child. If my bike had a flat tire and my parents were at work, I had to find a solution to get home.

Have you experienced envy or skepticism because you are successful as a mother and entrepreneur?

I think so. But I don’t want to be guided by that. My profession brings me a lot of joy. I can draw a lot of energy from my activity and the opportunities that have presented themselves to me and that I was able to seize. That’s why I would do it all over again today!

Looking back on your experience and in light of the ongoing political debates around the issue of reconciling family and career in Switzerland, what conclusions do you draw?

Although we are legally equal in Switzerland, we do not live it.

Women should not give up their independence when they start a family – especially not in financial terms. It’s a call to self-responsibility, not to rely on parents, on the partner, on marriage or on the state as a woman. This means maintaining an employment level of around 70 percent because that is about the amount needed for financial security. Mothers should stay professionally active and not make wrong compromises. And choosing a partner who not only affirms this endeavor but actively supports it. Because here too, the statistics are clear: 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. There is the Gender Pension Gap and the Child Penalty. Both mean significant financial disadvantages for women.

You mentioned childcare provision as part of the framework conditions: what importance does this have for ensuring the independence of mothers?

A very important one, but that alone is not enough. We need a whole catalog of measures to set incentives so that more subsidies and childcare spots actually result in more employment. If after childcare there is no all-day school offer, the second income is not tax-beneficial or we continue to convey classic role models, we will not make progress.

Is that a state task?

Yes, the state also has a role to play. Besides our human capital, we don’t have much in Switzerland. I think it is economically nonsensical, for example, if over 50 percent of all students at universities and colleges are women who then – when they become mothers – drop out of the workforce. Preventing this is in the interest of politics and the whole society. Better reconciliation of family and career is an investment in our future, just like compulsory education.

What advice would you give to young women – or young men?

To actively work for these changes and to take advantage of the unique privilege in this country to always have a say. And especially to elect more women to political bodies who can contribute to these issues.

“This means that mothers who want to work more than just part time must fight against these various stop signs and stereotypes. This requires a considerable amount of courage, a lot of perseverance and resilience.”