The Humanitarian Parent

The Humanitarian Parent is a watershed addition to the discourse about what it means to be human and purposeful in the humanitarian sector. Hietanen left no stone unturned. The Humanitarian Parent provides a provocative glimpse into what are at once the deeply personal and yet systemic contradictions, paradoxes and intersectionality of parenting in the humanitarian sector. Lucy Ellis, Founder of AidMamas, the global community of mothers in the humanitarian and international development sector The Humanitarian Parent is an important contribution for its critique of the organizational culture in the humanitarian sector through a feminist lens and neo-colonial lens. Through its honest and very relatable anecdotes, it is a moving and genuine conversation around the ‘perfect’ humanitarian vis a vis the needs of the affected community, and if appealing to traditional humanitarian archetypes weighs down efforts of fostering genuine progress in the sector. Dr Jessica Hazelwood, Humanitarian Expert This book was so much needed! And it is urgent for all of us to read it. Merit describes the struggle of many of us, parents in the humanitarian field, with depth and empathy, with a broad perspective that, while it acknowledges privileges and advantages of many of us, it bring us together on the challenges we face when becoming parents. Virginia Perez, Chief of Program, UN. Mother of two If you work in the humanitarian or development sector, you need to read this book, irrespective of whether you have children or not. Merit Hietanen depicts compellingly the dire need for a more feminist, anti-colonial, and overall more humane working culture and offers insights into getting there. Liisa Ketolainen, Specialist in gender equality and international relations In The Humanitarian Parent, the author explores the realities faced by individuals working in the aid sector, challenging the traditional narrative of a male-dominated field. Drawing on personal experiences and research, the book sheds light on the complex dynamics of balancing professional responsibilities with parenthood. It highlights the increasing presence of women and mothers in the aid sector, while acknowledging the unique challenges they face. The book also addresses the lack of support for working mothers and the impact of cultural norms on women’s ability to balance work and family life. Overall, The Humanitarian Parent offers valuable insights into the intersection of gender, parenthood, and humanitarian work, emphasizing the importance of supporting gender equality and family-friendly policies in the workplace. Mays Nawayseh, Humanitarian Specialist, Mother Many of us, humanitarians, will recognise bits of our own life on the pages of the Merit’s book The Humanitarian Parent. It will be interesting for humanitarian parents and equally to those who have yet to discover how the humanitarian lifestyle impacts (or often replaces) every single other aspect of human existence. I particularly appreciate the deep dive into the diversity of struggles among the humanitarian workers: not all challenges and people are the same, but all are equally valid. Yuliya Chykol'ba, Humanitarian Mine Action Specialist and co-host of the Ukraine series in the Trumanitarian podcast The Humanitarian Parent has captured an intimate and detailed account of the challenges and impact aid work has on the family life of staff in the sector. It offers a mosaic of complex and contrasting experiences, with numerous observations and arguments that countless people in the field will be able to relate to and commiserate with, as well as insight for those considering a career in aid work – noting that priorities often change over time and the importance of better understanding the consequences of decisions and sacrifices as it reflects across cultures and genders. Through this book I believe Merit Hietanen provides readers with a sense of fellowship within a community that has too often struggled in seclusion when it comes to matters of the family and work balance. I am grateful to Merit for her efforts in articulating with such clarity feelings and conditions I have struggled to frame and understand when weighing career aspirations against my own role as a husband and father. Teddy Leposky, Operations Officer, UNHCR Ukraine