By Kiki Peppard

Years ago, my testimony at a Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Committee public hearing began with two simple questions. I asked everyone in the room to please raise their hand if they had a mother (alive or deceased). Of course, everyone raised their hand. My second question was, if we all have a mom, why aren’t we supporting all moms in Pennsylvania? Ironically, I had been asking that question for 20 years of the lawmakers in Harrisburg who had relentlessly opposed legislation that would protect women, especially mothers, from being victims of personal, prying, invasive questions during job interviews.

I fought for a law to amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955 that would prohibit employers from asking job candidates about their marital/familial status during job interviews. This practice is not illegal in Pennsylvania and numerous other states in this country nor is there protection from the EEOC.

Women from all employment backgrounds reported to me that they were repeatedly asked if they were married or had children during job interviews. Some were even asked when they planned to become pregnant. These intrusive questions were asked before employers even scanned their resume or exemplary references. Women denied the existence of their children during their job interviews because mothers, especially single mothers, were considered a hiring risk and unreliable.

Right now, House Bill 1210 and Senate Bill 577 have been introduced and would amend the PHRA to prohibit questions regarding marital/familial status during job interviews. I think the perfect gift to give your mom this Mother’s Day is the gift of equality and justice. All it takes are two phone calls - one to your representative and one to your senator. Tell them that in honor of your mother, you want them to support these two bills that give women the dignity, equality and respect they deserve during job interviews.

In 2021, a mother should finally be able to interview for a job and discuss only her skills, education, and work experience without inappropriate and degrading questions.

I dedicate this article and the legislation to my mom who was born in Poland. At a young age she and her family were captured by Russians and sent to a concentration camp in Siberia. Exiled to India, she met my dad, an American soldier.

While I was growing up, she always told me what a great country America was and how we must always value our freedom. What would my mother think of this same America where her daughter, living in the state where the Declaration of Independence was signed, was forced on welfare because no one would hire a single mom.

This is not my mom’s America. This should not be your mom’s America. Make your voice count. Give this perfect Mother’s Day gift to your mom and for every mom in Pennsylvania. Happy Mother’s Day.

To find your state representative and senator, go to https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator.

Kiki Peppard,

Proud Mom, Palmerton