I Am Woman! Hear Me Whine!
Jul. 17, 2006 at 9:00 PM
Homeschooling
My answer is a lot shorter than yours, Leslie,American politicians, hear me roar:
As a woman, I want to -- need to - work to provide for my family, keep my sanity, and give back to my country. But in order to max out my abilities as an employee and mom over the course of my lifetime, I need a few things:
1) Real economic incentives for companies that provide flexible schedules for family caregivers, maternity and paternity leave, onsite day care and aftercare, and a cool, well-lighted place to pump at work
2) At least as many high-quality, affordable child-care centers as there are Dunkin' Donuts (preferrably next to every Dunkin' Donuts)
3) A Constitutional amendment protecting women's rights to birth control (so that we can choose when to work and when to focus on raising kids).
4) Subliminal cultural messages (an advertising campaign, role models on TV and in movies, newspaper articles with supporting data) just like the ones moms have endured for the past 40 (or 40,000) years, but this time communicating the value to American society of supporting women's efforts to combine work and family.
So, what do you need?
I need the government to stay out of my private life.
It's not the government's job to find you a place to nurse, or a place to baby sit your child, or guarantee your right to prevent conception. (Should they buy your doughnuts too?) When I worked I negotiated my own benefits or I didn't work there. Period. I never was forced to work on Sunday and any day my husband had off (before I quit altogether) I had off. Ladies, if you want to work, that's your right. Go for it. I support your freedom to choose in every way except one, with my tax dollars. Don't ask the government to negotiate your benefits for you and provide subliminal psychological messages to support your choice. The state is not your personal nanny. It's not their job.
Why is it that women who claim they are independent, depend on the government for so much of their independence? I just don't get it.
Related Tags: Mommy Wars, Washington Post, working women, stay at home mothers, feminism, family
6 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by on Jul. 18, 2006 at 1:15 AM
But I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you on winning the Blogs of Beauty Awards for the catagory of Best Discussion Blog AND Best Homeschooling Blog . Way to go!!!!
Edited by lonestaracademy on Jul. 17, 2006 at 10:16 PM
posted by Lachen (http://www.1starfish.blogspot.com/) on Jul. 18, 2006 at 2:59 AM
I just want to stand up and applaud this post from way out here in California. Brilliant! While some of us make demands and assert our various entitlements, some of us want the tentacles of government the heck OFF our our families, including our freedoms to parent and educate our children as we determine best.
Wonderful post.
posted by homeskoolmom on Jul. 18, 2006 at 9:23 AM
You hit the nail on the head! If the feminists want to be treated like a man--then they should act like one! I don't hear men whining about what the government should do for them!
Have a wonderful day,
Christine
posted by PattyPeaches on Jul. 18, 2006 at 12:34 PM
Just when, according to her item #3, is Ms. Steiner's "focus on raising kids" if she's pumping at work, taking her children to daycare, etc. The best thing she can do to "give back to her country" is to put her energy into her family and home life and not expect society, the village, or the government to support her decision to neglect her most important role. She seems to "get" the fact that life is fractured when moms are in the workforce in droves - otherwise she wouldn't be whining for assistance. Instead of looking at the reason why things aren't running smoothly - which is caused by her decision to "unchoose" her primary role, she expects our tax dollars to buy millions of bandaids to temporarily cover the problem. This is all part and parcel with the universal preschool movement, all-day kindergarten and other things you've talked about in the past. I applaud you for taking the stands you do and being an articulate voice for so many of us who choose to stay home and educate our children!
posted by CommunicationFUNdamentals on Jul. 18, 2006 at 4:38 PM
Exactly Spunky! I was wondering that myself. If she is so independent, why does she need help from the governement and society. It's like I always thought funny about all those teens who are "expressing their individuality" by wearing the same "trendy clothes" everyone else is. Just plain makes no sense. A truly independent individual makes her own way with her own style.
JoJo
posted by KarenW on Jul. 18, 2006 at 4:56 PM
Well said!