MomsRising slogan

Right now MomsRising is having a slogan contest. I entered :-)

I think MomsRising is a great group, trying to do something very tough and very important. They are working to break down all the arguments in the media that have divided mothers lately and make progress on motherhood's common ground. There are a lot of suggestions, including some I like and some I don't (and one I hate).

The ones I like:
- Unite mothers
- Focus on common ground only
- Focus on the main issue and not a pet issue
- Sound good to the ear
- Are simple
- Are clearly calling for action

The ones I don't like:
- Express one side of a debate that moms are split on (MomsRising is trying to avoid this)
- Only represent working moms, probably the most easily targeted parts of the MomsRising audience - we need to target those who aren't as easily involved. We need SAHMs to say where they stand.
- Are too domistic-y and might put off working moms, who are probably the majority of the MomsRising audience (although I did like, "Good Bread, and Good Moms . . . Rise Up!" - I'd rather err on this side, especially if there will be more than one slogan used)
- Are too wordy
- Don't explain what MomsRising is
- Focus on one problem, when MomsRising is addressing many problems and policies.
- Aren't clearly political (often of the "Moms Rock" form - we need to do good, not feel good)

The one I hate is a pro-choice message. Errr (buzzer sound), wrong, MomsRising is not pro-choice.

In fact, I think the greatest issue MomsRising faces is in avoiding the following stereotypes:
- Partisan, Democratic (they try to be non-partisan, but many of the solutions are changes to federal laws - hence, best led by Democrats)
- Working-moms only (MomsRising wants to represent all moms, but the workplace is the place where moms are most clearly discriminated against - fair solutions for SAHMs are harder to recognize)
- Pro-abortion rights (I really think MomsRising as an organization wants to avoid this issue, but there is tension from the membership with the desire to follow feminism)

MomsRising is feminist in that it represents a group of women. However, this isn't the anti-man, all-moms-must-work feminism that so many women hate. This is political feminism, seeking through political action to give women realistic options. This group is ACKNOWLEDGING that women are NOT the same as men. We have different values. We have different goals. Whether this is cultural or biological doesn't matter. Feminism doesn't have a right to dismiss the views of women who come from a different culture than "approved" feminists as being lesser. If you believe all women are equal to men, you can't follow it up by saying that some women are more equal than others.

MomsRising is NOT feminism itself; it does not claim to represent ALL women. It is a branch of feminism. A natural result of women being empowered is that groups of women with something in common - like motherhood - can now seek to have their needs met through political processes. Without including all other women. If only the female pro-choice groups would do the same, instead of co-opting the "feminist" title and dragging it through the mud. But I digress.

I also took the time to create my own idea. My suggestion?
"When politics divide
MOTHERS UNITE!"