Examines the history of American ideas about motherhood, how those ideas have impacted all women whether or not they have children, and calls for changes in workplace policies, cultural norms, and personal attitudes about motherhood.

"After filing a story for a journalism assignment only two hours after giving birth, Amy Westervelt had a revelation: we treat mothers like crap in this country. From inadequate maternity leave to gender-based double standards, emotional labor to the wage gap, and the racist devaluing of some mothers to the overvaluing of others, Westervelt became determined to understand how we got here and how the promise of 'having it all' even became a thing when it was so far from reality. Now, Westervelt traces the roots of our problems to our nation's founding and through the changing roles of men and women since. Some discoveries may be surprising--the expectations placed on mothers have shifted wildly throughout our history (in early colonial days, for example, women were not trusted with much childrearing)--others less so (systemic racism has kept the country from learning important lessons from non-white American mothers). Westervelt draws out what we should replicate from our past (the origin of Mother's Day, for example, was a dedicated day for mothers to organize just as laborers had done) and what to scrap entirely. Ultimately, Westervelt presents a measured, historically backed call for workplace policies, cultural norms, and personal attitudes about motherhood that will radically improve the lives of not just working moms but every American."--Dust jacket.