A friend , a mother herself, declared to me the other day that it was obviously only 'docile' women who were not 'intellectual' who could handle being stay-at-home mums.
Or could it be that the intellectual ones who stay at home just have the confidence and self-resepct not to seek validation and identity in paid work at the kids' expense?
Docile?! She's got to be kidding! It was once the norm to look after your own kids. Nowadays, it's only for the brave. Women's Lib was all about giving women equal status, but in real terms all they did was give them more work to do. Jobs AND parenting. And social security for women post childraising disappeared, which means when the kids are grown and the husband dies or leaves, the women are forced to scrounge a living somehow. I admire women who raise their own children. To do it properly takes a lot of time and effort. And hats off to the men who make it possible for them.
It's not respectful - I have a problem with judging mothers for the choices they make, regardless of what family - paid work balance option they choose - or have forced upon them.
On a personal note, I've had to get a lot more bolshie looking after my girls, who are themselves most definitely NOT docile. Docile doesn't get the kids raised, I'm finding.
And as for intellectual, I read no less post-structuralist philosophy and watch no more Sex and the City repeats than I did when I worked full-time.
Like I said: bfffft-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Someone give me a line of cocaine sose I can get this mothering thing done properly.At lease on coke I will be under the illusion that i'm extremely clever and excellent at all I do.
12 comments:
bwahhhhhhhh - haaaaaaaaaa!
I think I just fell off my inner chair!
ps. you need some dummer friends.
find nicer friends ???
I'm not sure I have EVER in my whole life EVER been described as docile. Something to aim for in 2010?
Wow. That is sad, and just plain mean!
Or could it be that the intellectual ones who stay at home just have the confidence and self-resepct not to seek validation and identity in paid work at the kids' expense?
But what would I know? I is derr.
Docile?! She's got to be kidding! It was once the norm to look after your own kids. Nowadays, it's only for the brave. Women's Lib was all about giving women equal status, but in real terms all they did was give them more work to do. Jobs AND parenting. And social security for women post childraising disappeared, which means when the kids are grown and the husband dies or leaves, the women are forced to scrounge a living somehow. I admire women who raise their own children. To do it properly takes a lot of time and effort. And hats off to the men who make it possible for them.
How did you respond, Georgia?
It's not respectful - I have a problem with judging mothers for the choices they make, regardless of what family - paid work balance option they choose - or have forced upon them.
On a personal note, I've had to get a lot more bolshie looking after my girls, who are themselves most definitely NOT docile. Docile doesn't get the kids raised, I'm finding.
And as for intellectual, I read no less post-structuralist philosophy and watch no more Sex and the City repeats than I did when I worked full-time.
Did you punch her? :D
Yikes.
Like I said: bfffft-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Someone give me a line of cocaine sose I can get this mothering thing done properly.At lease on coke I will be under the illusion that i'm extremely clever and excellent at all I do.
oh my. who says shit like that in public anymore?
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