A furious debate broke out on Good Morning Britain as guests clashed over whether motherhood ruins women’s careers.
Broadcaster and mother of two, Narinder Kaur, said that “moms need to be at home” because they “can’t have it both ways,” while fashion designer and mother of three, Savannah Miller, argued that women ” can do both.”
The debate comes after singer Lily Allen admitted having children ‘ruined’ her career and rejected the idea that women can ‘have it all’.
Narinder agreed with the Smile singer, saying that a woman who has children and successful careers is “a myth.”
She added: “I want to give Lily Allen a pat on the back because she was completely honest. I think she sparked a lot of moms’ belief in the myth that you can have it all, but you can’t.
Broadcaster and mother-of-two Narinder Kaur said “mums need to be home” as they “can’t have it both ways” in the GMB debate.
‘It is absolutely impossible to have a successful career and raise children. It’s a lie, because if you want to be a fully present mom, if you want to meet their physical and emotional needs, you need to be a mom at home.’
Savannah disagreed, saying that women can juggle motherhood and careers, but they have to “make sacrifices.”
She said: ‘I don’t think we can have it all, we have to make sacrifices. However, telling your daughters that they will have to choose between being a mother or having a career is very damaging.
‘Also telling your children that this is what you expect from your wives or girlfriends when they give birth – that they are simply going to put their careers aside and that yours is more important – is, frankly, abhorrent.
‘I want to raise children who go out into the world supporting women. Why is a man’s career valued more than a woman’s? It doesn’t make any sense to me.
The fashion designer revealed that she was a “flexible worker” when she had her children and had people around her to help her.
She said: ‘I had people help me from my village when I couldn’t get to the school gates and I would put my children to bed every night, read them a story and go back to using my laptop. It is very damaging to tell a woman that her career does not have the same value as that of men.’
Fashion designer and mother of three, Savannah Miller (right), argued that women “can do both”
Narinder disagreed and said, “We don’t need to be Superwoman, we need to be mothers at home with our children.” Unfortunately, this world is not made for two working parents and, as a mother, I believe that mothers need to be at home with the children.’
Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to leave their own thoughts on the controversial topic.
One person said: ‘Lily Allen’s comments highlight the need for more discussion and support around the challenges parents face in the workplace. It’s not about ‘having it all’, it’s about finding a balance that works for you.’
Another said: ‘How is this even a debate? A career does not involve a great sacrifice to have children. Have a damn perspective.
Someone else said: ‘It’s impossible to be 100% committed to a job and 100% committed to raising children.
“Women seem to be obsessed with proving they can do everything, but they can’t! I’m a stay-at-home mom and you shame me for making that decision! I think my career should stop to raise your child.”
Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to leave their own thoughts on the controversial topic.
A fourth said: ‘They don’t ruin a career, but if you are the main carer of children, or even share equal shares with your partner, having children limits your ability to continue rising through the ranks!
“I’ve often felt like I’m not giving, both at work and as a mom – the guilt from juggling is real!”
The debate comes after Lily Allen admitted her two daughters had “totally ruined” her pop career because she decided to prioritize them over work, insisting: “You can’t have it all.”
The singer-turned-actress, 38, said she believes women have to decide whether to put their children or their career first, and said she chose the former.
‘My children ruined my career. “I love them and they complete me, but in terms of pop stardom, they completely ruined it,” he told Radio Times Podcast.
‘It really bothers me when people say you can have it all because, frankly, you can’t.
The singer-turned-actress, 38, said she believes women have to decide whether to put their children or their careers first, and said she chose the former (LR: Lily Allen, her daughters Marnie Rose Cooper and Ethel Cooper, and her husband, actor David Harbor). )
‘Some people choose their career over their children’s and that’s their prerogative, but my parents were quite absent when I was growing up.
“I feel like it left some nasty scars that I’m not willing to repeat on mine.”
Lily’s father is actor Keith Allen, 70, who abandoned her mother, film producer Alison Owen, 63, when Lily was four.
Lily has now said that she “chose to step back and focus on my children” and is glad she did as “they are quite well-rounded.”
The Smile singer shares two daughters, Ethel Mary, 12, and Marnie Rose, 10, with her ex-husband, builder Sam Cooper, 45, but released her latest studio album, No Shame, in 2018.
Lily now lives in New York with her children and her new husband, Stranger Things star David Harbour, 48, whom she married in 2020 and has dedicated herself to acting.