Emily Blunt gets asked where her kids are when she’s working—and she knows men don’t get the same treatment

In a recent interview for Porter, Emily Blunt opened up about the challenging gender disparities that she faces within the entertainment industry. It sadly comes at no surprise that in the year of 2022, gender disparities in the workplace are still very real—and very discouraging. And it also comes at no surprise that even working celebrity moms face these gender differences when it comes to their roles in parenting and maintaining a career.

While it shouldn’t even be a problem, Blunt noted that working mothers often have their decisions brought into question—while men simply don’t. She even shared that the gender disparities are very prevalent between her and husband John Krasinski.

Related: Olivia Wilde says she’s mom-shamed when she’s not with her kids: ‘I’ve never seen anyone say that about a guy’

“It is interesting that women are still made to feel defensive of their choices to work, and men are not,” Blunt stated—to which we fully agree. According to Motherly’s 2022 State of Motherhood survey, almost half of today’s working moms are breadwinners. Yet while many women are maintaining their careers in conjunction with motherhood, society continues to make them feel as though their only priority should be their children. Not work. Not enjoying some well-deserved “me-time”. Not hanging out with friends. But only their kids.

“When I was on set in Atlanta, which was challenging because I was racing back home every weekend—and then the kids would come to me for five, six days—it was amazing how many people asked where my kids were,” Blunt stated. “I thought, ‘I bet Chris Evans isn’t being asked that question, or Andy Garcia, or Jay Duplass.’” 

And she’s absolutely right. I bet no man is being asked that question. Because the truth is society doesn’t see men as the primary parents. Society doesn’t question if men can balance a career and being a father—because most times they’re not even asked to. They don’t have to worry about nearly half of what mothers are burdened with every single day. And thanks to gender disparities, society does a fine job of singling out mothers and giving fathers a hall pass on parenting.

She also isn’t the first nor the last mom to deal with gender disparities in the workplace. 

But the key thing that we are missing is that moms don’t have to just be moms. There are working moms, celebrity moms, entrepreneur moms—all who have the ability to balance motherhood and whatever else they decide to put on their plates. And that’s just it. It’s their decision. Not society’s. Not their male counterparts’. But theirs.

Emily Blunt sadly isn’t the first nor last celebrity mom—or mom in general—to get asked the question of where her kids are—as if she must be attached to them 24/7. She also isn’t the first nor the last mom to deal with gender disparities in the workplace. 

It happens all across the globe on a daily basis. Whether you’re Emily Blunt. Whether you’re Megan Fox. Whether you’re any mom juggling a career and motherhood.

Related: 12 times celebrities were mom-shamed for ridiculous reasons

Though parenting should be a dual task, moms continue to shoulder most of the weight—and catch the most slack for simply wanting to enjoy anything else outside of motherhood. 

Emily Blunt shared that she oftentimes finds herself overcompensating in order to “prove” that she can balance it all—”all” being work and her kids. She admitted that she sometimes feels “weighed down with guilt” when it comes to wanting a career but also wanting to be available to her children. And it’s sad to say that many mothers can relate to this sentiment when society continuously makes it seem like women can only thrive at either or—either a career or a family—rather than both.

But moms, might I say remarkably, are taking on their dreams, goals and aspirations in the midst of motherhood each and every day. So it’s time to stop questioning our decisions. It’s time to stop questioning our balance. It’s time to stop questioning where our kids are.

Because moms are tired of only being seen as moms while dads get to be any and everything they want to be. Moms are tired of only being seen as moms when they have husbands who should share in equal parenting. Moms are tired of only being seen as moms when they are moms—and yet so much more.