Melodie Mendoza warned that motherhood has often become a "labor punishment" for many women, not only through direct dismissals but also through subtle behaviors that undermine their professional standing and emotional well-being.
The ASG deputy detailed that these situations manifest as unjustified changes in duties, constant questioning of availability, loss of responsibilities, or comments suggesting incompatibility between motherhood and greater professional challenges.
“"These behaviors ultimately affect not only the job stability of many women but also their emotional stability. A modern society cannot put a woman in a position where she has to choose between her professional project and her life project."
Mendoza recalled that the Canary Islands have legal and administrative instruments against harassment and sex discrimination, as well as specific protocols in public administrations. She mentioned the new protocol from the Ministry of Education (approved in 2025) which updates regulations, enhances confidentiality, and streamlines procedures.
“"No protocol will be truly useful if the victim continues to fear reporting or if the procedures end up generating more insecurity or revictimization."
Therefore, she called for improving diagnosis and data collection, strengthening prevention in workplaces, and ensuring support, confidentiality, psychological assistance, and protection against retaliation for those who report.
The ASG representative insisted that combating maternal mobbing requires transforming workplace cultures and moving towards shared responsibility in work-life balance, as caregiving responsibilities still fall predominantly on women, exposing them to penalties for assuming family duties.
