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French Minister Gives Birth, Returns to Work and Fired, All in a Month
Filed under: In The News
You remember Rachida Dati, the single French justice minister who had a baby and then returned to work just five days later. Some of us were outraged while others applauded her fortitude -- and svelte figure.
Now, less than a month later, she's been sacked from Nicolas Sarkozy's government. Rumor has it that Sarkozy was disappointed in her postpartum performance at work. Doesn't that sound awful?
Whatever the case, and whether Dati, 43, was "sacked," as the newspapers proclaim, or the decision was mutual, as Sarkozy's people claim, there's no doubt she'll continue to be a lighting rod in the Mommy Wars on both sides of the Atlantic. Oh, and the focus of endless speculation about the identity of the father of Zohra, born January 2, 2009. Candidates include Francois-Henri Pinault (that's Salma Hayek's baby daddy), a former Spanish Prime Minister and a Copenhagen sperm bank.
What should employers expect from new mothers returning to work? And what should we expect from ourselves? Is it fair to look for 100 percent? And does "fair" still matter in this economy?
In response to our last post on Dati, one ParentDisher commented: "A single mother I returned to work five days later after giving birth to a 9lb-8oz child and brought him to work. A single mom does do what she needs to do when one doesn't have the luxury of nannies, family, or support of the man who helped father the child."
Another countered: "...Go ahead, give this woman an award for abandoning her baby. Women have a choice regarding becoming pregnant. This woman is not a mother but a egg donor who pays bills."
The middle ground was offered by Lily: "Women are individuals and everyone is unique. If you can handle going back sooner and you desire to then do it, if you don't then don't."
Celeb Moms - Before and After Baby
Former Justice Minister Rachida Dati at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 14, 2009. She looks great just 12 days after giving birth.
Gerard Cerles/AFP/Getty Images
Cindy Crawford is proof-positive that it
Jemal Countess, WireImage
Here's Cindy before her kids, Presley, 9, and daughter Kaia, 7. Click to see more celebrity moms before- and after-baby photos.
Getty Images
Having a baby undoubtedly changes your body, no matter how many fitness gurus, personal chefs, and dietitians you can afford to have at your disposal. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing -- in fact, often times it's for the better!
Getty Images
Gwen Stefani before becoming pregnant with her first child in 2005.
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And here's Gwen in 2006, after giving birth to her son James.
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Pre-pregnancy Jessica Alba poses on the red carpet.
Getty Images
Jessica looks even lovelier after giving birth to her daughter, Honor Marie.
Getty Images
Halle Berry shows off her pre-baby body.
Getty Images
Having since given birth to daughter Nahla Ariela Aubry, Halle is even more gorgeous.
Getty Images
Now, less than a month later, she's been sacked from Nicolas Sarkozy's government. Rumor has it that Sarkozy was disappointed in her postpartum performance at work. Doesn't that sound awful?
But the story doesn't end there. A week after denying any possibility of running for upcoming European Parliament elections -- declaring "non, non et non!" -- she's now running as number two on a list of candidates from the UMP party. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure that's a great job, but a demotion nonetheless. Dati was the first person of North African heritage to be appointed to a senior French cabinet position.
Whatever the case, and whether Dati, 43, was "sacked," as the newspapers proclaim, or the decision was mutual, as Sarkozy's people claim, there's no doubt she'll continue to be a lighting rod in the Mommy Wars on both sides of the Atlantic. Oh, and the focus of endless speculation about the identity of the father of Zohra, born January 2, 2009. Candidates include Francois-Henri Pinault (that's Salma Hayek's baby daddy), a former Spanish Prime Minister and a Copenhagen sperm bank.
What should employers expect from new mothers returning to work? And what should we expect from ourselves? Is it fair to look for 100 percent? And does "fair" still matter in this economy?
In response to our last post on Dati, one ParentDisher commented: "A single mother I returned to work five days later after giving birth to a 9lb-8oz child and brought him to work. A single mom does do what she needs to do when one doesn't have the luxury of nannies, family, or support of the man who helped father the child."
Another countered: "...Go ahead, give this woman an award for abandoning her baby. Women have a choice regarding becoming pregnant. This woman is not a mother but a egg donor who pays bills."
The middle ground was offered by Lily: "Women are individuals and everyone is unique. If you can handle going back sooner and you desire to then do it, if you don't then don't."
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-23-2009 @ 3:58PM
Susan said...I think it is great. I went back to work 12 days after giving birth. I enjoy working and helping make our children's life better. My husband is less likely to have a heart attack, then the men who have to work, while their wives sit and watch TV all day.
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 4:07PM
Toots said...Susan,
Maybe you should go back to school instead and learn proper grammar! And just because some mothers stay home to raise their children doesn't mean they are sitting around watching t.v. all day!
1-23-2009 @ 5:51PM
old enough to remember said...So, as I read your comment, is your husband at home taking care of the baby? Is that why he won't have a heart attack? Or did you go back to work, plop the kid in daycare and don't give a hoot about it? Several friends who went back to work after a couple of months said they regretted not being there for the first steps, first words, etc. They also said the baby called the caretakers mommy, not them.
1-23-2009 @ 9:18PM
Sheila said...So, Susan...what you're saying is in those 12 days you stayed home after having your baby you watched TV, and assume that all other women do the same thing?
1-23-2009 @ 4:20PM
michelle said...Real moms do not sit around watching tv all day, they are too busy actually taking care of their kids. As a matter of fact, the children of real moms do not sit around watching tv all day either!
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 7:41PM
Bob said...WELL, THEY COULD HAVE PAID HER TO STAY HOME ON MATERNITY LEAVE AND GET NO PRODU TION OUT OF HER OR SHE COULD GO TO WORK AND GET SOME WORK DONE AND THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY HER. I THINK THEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF GETTING SOME WORK OUT OF HER BUT I'M NOT FRENCH.
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 6:37PM
Shontae said...I think the notion of mothers staying at home watching tv all day is overrated. I stay at home and never have lack of things to get done.
How is sending your kid to a babysitter or daycare make you a better parent????
Reply
1-24-2009 @ 10:13AM
P McBride said...Susan,
You can tell you have never stayed at home or you would know, stay at home wives and moms do a great many things you probably don't do to make their husband's off time "real" off time. I stay at home, and I can guarantee you the TV is not on nor do I sit and watch it as you seem to think. You might ask some of these other stay at home moms what they do all do, and I think their answers might surprise you.
Reply
1-24-2009 @ 11:24AM
Jane said...I think its great she was able to go back to work. Women do what they have to do. It's not just a mans world.
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1-25-2009 @ 3:07AM
Mirror said...I wish the press could post the whole story instead of jumping to conclusion. Many papers in France have been speculating for months about her termination due to poor performance, she got 6 assistants fired within one year and the department was forced to appoint a no 2 to support her position in order to avoid a crisis. She did not get fired sooner because of her close friendship with the former first lady. This woman has been caught too many times by the media during her work hours spending hundred of thousands at designers stores while the country economy is in a state of crisis. She did not get fired because of maternity and she was given many chances to get it together.
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