Among other issues in the forefront of the race for Republican Presidential Candidate nominee that concern women, is the subject of Mothers, and if they should be part of the work force or stay at home to raise their children. As if this, or any of the other 'pelvic politics' topics is anyone's business besides the woman involved making that decision, we are faced with the Mommy Wars, which have become another item for debate.
Recently, Ann Romney was called on the carpet by Democratic Strategist, Hilary Rosen, who accused Mrs. Romney being a stay-at-home-mom who had never worked a day in her life. Ms. Rosen, stated, "She's never dealt with the economic issue that a majority of women in the U.S. are facing." In response, Mrs. Romney said, "My career choice was to be a mother. Other women make other choices. We have to respect women in all their choices."
Statistics show, as this debate does, that as a society and as individuals, we are conflicted about what is the best role for moms. And while many women don't have the luxury of being a stay-at-home-mom such as Ann Romney has, the important point here is her last statement: to respect women in all their choices. The Obama camp, who will probably be running against her husband, stuck up for stay-at-home-mom Romney. Mrs. Obama [who is in Pittsburgh today] commented, "Every woman works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected." That should be the bottom line with this and the other female-related issues gone public, like birth control and abortion.
Leslie Bennetts, on The Feminine Mistake in Don't Give Up Your Day Job, cites many reasons that make sense for women to continue their careers throughout motherhood. She says, "if you look at women in midlife, the ones who are really happy and excited about the future are the ones who have their own careers. They pay for it with a certain amount of stress early on, when their kids are young and they're juggling like mad, but as the years go on the benefits increase exponentially for working women, and the penalties increase exponentially for women who have given up their careers." Personally, I think it sets a positive example for the children and helps them to establish their independence and self-sufficiency as individuals.
According to the Pew Research Center, three quarters of American adults say the trend toward more women in the workforce is a change for the better, and 62 percent believe that a marriage where both partners have jobs and share the housework is more satisfying than the old separate spheres model of the husband working outside the house and the wife taking care of the home. Other polls indicate only 21 percent of adults say society has benefited by the trend of more mothers of young children working outside the home. Like the others, the debate will most likely go on and on.
Statistics show, as this debate does, that as a society and as individuals, we are conflicted about what is the best role for moms. And while many women don't have the luxury of being a stay-at-home-mom such as Ann Romney has, the important point here is her last statement: to respect women in all their choices. The Obama camp, who will probably be running against her husband, stuck up for stay-at-home-mom Romney. Mrs. Obama [who is in Pittsburgh today] commented, "Every woman works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected." That should be the bottom line with this and the other female-related issues gone public, like birth control and abortion.
Leslie Bennetts, on The Feminine Mistake in Don't Give Up Your Day Job, cites many reasons that make sense for women to continue their careers throughout motherhood. She says, "if you look at women in midlife, the ones who are really happy and excited about the future are the ones who have their own careers. They pay for it with a certain amount of stress early on, when their kids are young and they're juggling like mad, but as the years go on the benefits increase exponentially for working women, and the penalties increase exponentially for women who have given up their careers." Personally, I think it sets a positive example for the children and helps them to establish their independence and self-sufficiency as individuals.
According to the Pew Research Center, three quarters of American adults say the trend toward more women in the workforce is a change for the better, and 62 percent believe that a marriage where both partners have jobs and share the housework is more satisfying than the old separate spheres model of the husband working outside the house and the wife taking care of the home. Other polls indicate only 21 percent of adults say society has benefited by the trend of more mothers of young children working outside the home. Like the others, the debate will most likely go on and on.
Yup. It's a tricky one, but I so agree that work in the home is WORK! (which is why I refuse to do more than half of it, well--even half of it). I respect immensely those who can work in the home, but I worry so about women who, because they worked in the home, become economically vulnerable--thus forced to stay in marriages that don't satisfy them OR leave, but struggle immensely. Couldn't agree more.
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