No Country for Mothers: Why This Film Matters for Women Returning to Work
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
At Untapped Potential, we talk often about the “caregiving gap,” the years many women
spend away from paid work while raising children, caring for elders, or supporting a loved one with illness. We know this time does not erase skills, ambition, or professional value. But we also know that the larger system, especially the lack of affordable, accessible childcare and family support, makes returning to work far harder than it needs to be.
That is why No Country for Mothers, a new documentary on modern motherhood in America, feels so deeply connected to our mission.
A Story About Mothers, Work, and What’s Missing
No Country for Mothers explores the culture wars surrounding American motherhood and why labels like “girl boss” and “trad wife” ultimately distract us from the real issue: the lack of support for American families. Following activist Reshma Saujani and a growing national movement, the film charts how moms are being pulled apart by competing expectations, to be everything at home and everything at work, while the structures that would actually help families thrive remain out of reach.
For many women in the Untapped Potential community, this is not an abstract conversation. It is daily life. It is the reason talented professionals step back from careers they love. It is the reason so many feel forced to choose between being a good caregiver and being a serious professional. And it is the reason we exist, to help women navigate a system that was not built with their realities in mind. The fabric of our society is missing something to enable women to succeed in these conflicting endeavors. Societal change takes time, ten years ago, we started Untapped Potential to weave a solution supporting women to reach their potential.
Why This Screening Matters for Returners
If you are considering a return to paid work, or have ever been up against an impossible caregiving choice while working, this film and the discussion that follows can help you name the structural barriers you are up against, so you do not internalize them as personal failure.
It can also help you see your experience as part of a larger story, shared by many women across class, race, and geography. And it offers a chance to connect with others who are thinking deeply about how to make work, family, and community more compatible.
This is about recognizing that the current landscape makes re-entry harder than it should be, and that honest conversation and collective action can help shift it.
Attend in West Hartford at the Library
We are excited to see Amanda Aronson of StoryB and the Women’s Work Project hosting this screening. Amanda is an advocate for women, and past speaker at our Lift Each Other UP panel. She is bringing this film and conversation to West Hartford as part of the national American Motherhood Tour, in partnership with the West Hartford Public Library and the Town of West Hartford’s Office of Employee Development & Community Engagement.
Film Screening & Discussion: No Country for Mothers
Tuesday, September 8
6:00–7:45 PM (Arrive by 5:30pm for Networking and more...
Noah Webster Library, West Hartford, CT
The evening will include a screening of the documentary followed by a facilitated conversation with Amanda, connecting the film’s themes to the lived experiences of mothers, caregivers, and women navigating work and family in Connecticut.
We encourage Untapped Potential community members to arrive a bit early to connect and network with one another before the program begins. Spots are limited, so please RSVP soon.
Free parking is available in the Isham Garage during your library visit.
Come As You Are
Whether you are currently out of the workforce, working part-time, juggling a full-time role with caregiving, or simply trying to understand what a more supportive future could look like, this event is for you. You do not need to have all the answers. You do not need to be “ready” to return. You only need to be willing to show up, listen, and share your perspective.
At Untapped Potential, we believe that when women come together with honesty and support, we can create new pathways, for ourselves, our families, and the next generation of workers. This film is one more step in that direction.
We'll look forward to seeing you there! Spots are limited.
Registration at the Library is required. We will ensure your contact info is registered for this sold out event.
