After I told my colleagues that I was pregnant, their attitude changed. They give me fewer responsibilities, and I’m not even invited to some meetings. They make me feel like I’m useless. How can I overcome this discrimination? Should I change jobs or be patient?
8 Answers
8Such things happen a lot at work. My mom also went through a lot of stuff while she was pregnant, like rumors and things. The real problem is that no one talks openly about it. I think it would be better if they spoke directly with you.
I think this is a very classic situation at the workplace. When someone is pregnant, they immediately start to cut back on responsibilities, thinking, ‘After all, she can take leave, let’s not let her tire herself out.’ The worst part is that they do this thinking they are doing a good deed.
But from the employer’s perspective, they also need to do some calculations. Pregnancy is a risky process, and if too much burden falls on you, it can be difficult for everyone. Perhaps they can’t bear to put you at risk?
This is where employment law comes into play. Exclusion due to pregnancy or being kept away from meetings could constitute discrimination. It would be good to get advice from official institutions, as everything should be documented.
By the way, let me add that sometimes people just say it directly. For example, the other day one of my colleagues said, ‘well, you’re going on leave soon, so we’re making plans accordingly.’ But isn’t this my choice?
So, have you ever talked to the boss or the managers about this situation? Maybe, like you said, they’re doing it unconsciously and they don’t realize it unless you say something 
This is just exploitation of labor. They’re already making it harder for women to participate in the workforce, and on top of that, they’re pushing them aside by excluding them during pregnancy. Your decisions, your labor. Definitely don’t stay silent.
Not being invited to meetings is really tough. It makes you feel like you’re falling behind everyone else. Especially during pregnancy, when you’re already dealing with your body, this psychological burden can be really heavy.