I read the Columbia Journalism Review article a few days ago, and it's churning in my mind along with the recent discussions on ozarque's journal about scutwork. I need to polish up my comments on all of it.
I still know a lot of women who have chosen to focus on being mothers while having little or no paid work. This article suggests they must be lying to themselves, which I find insulting. Yes, there are many financial hits they may take down the line, such as if they get dumped by their husbands, or have a long retirement, but they don't care. If i were in their position, neither would I.
Personally, I like working. And I do see women being pushed out of work by having no flexibility options. So I think the article is being realistic in assuming that quite a few women stop working not because they want to, but because they do not have the option to work in a way that is realistic (less than 60 hours a week with some time flexibility). I definitely see the expectation from the men at my work that having kids shouldn't impact my hours and work schedule. I'm lucky in that I was old and established enough in my career by the time I had kids that I couldn't be pushed out. But I still get pressure (as do all other women attorneys who work in firms that I've talked to) about my lower hours.
I don't know if women don't care about the financial hits down the line. Maybe some consider these hits and decide to risk it. But I expect that quite a few don't think about it in these terms. Plus, as the article points out, it's only people like us (middle class) who have the option to live on a single salary.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judith_s![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-22 11:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-22 11:50 pm (UTC)I still know a lot of women who have chosen to focus on being mothers while having little or no paid work. This article suggests they must be lying to themselves, which I find insulting. Yes, there are many financial hits they may take down the line, such as if they get dumped by their husbands, or have a long retirement, but they don't care. If i were in their position, neither would I.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-23 12:02 am (UTC)I don't know if women don't care about the financial hits down the line. Maybe some consider these hits and decide to risk it. But I expect that quite a few don't think about it in these terms. Plus, as the article points out, it's only people like us (middle class) who have the option to live on a single salary.