At work, I noticed subtle but constant bias. Whenever deadlines or big projects came up, my manager would hesitate before assigning them to me. The excuse was always the same: “You’re a single mom, we don’t want to overwhelm you.” At first, I thought it was concern, but soon I realized it was discrimination. They assumed my family situation made me unreliable.
The truth was the opposite. I had been balancing parenting and work for years, showing up early, staying late when needed, and delivering results. Yet colleagues with fewer responsibilities were trusted more. One day, after being passed over for a major project, I decided enough was enough. I confronted my manager directly.
I explained that being a single mom didn’t make me less reliable — it made me more resourceful, organized, and determined. I reminded them of my track record: deadlines met, clients satisfied, and performance reviews that proved my consistency. I told them plainly: “Judge me by my work, not by your assumptions.”
The conversation was uncomfortable, but it shifted the dynamic. HR later backed me up, pointing out that reliability is measured by results, not stereotypes. My manager apologized, and I was finally given the responsibility I had earned. Standing up for myself wasn’t just about me — it was about challenging a bias that hurts many single parents.
