Yet another article in The Age today addressed the career/ stay at home, maternity leave, inequality debate, this time starting off from the book: 
I read excerpts from the book and can’t make a glib comment about it. Mostly because I didn’t understand her viewpoint. But that is not going to stop me adding my sweeping statements to the debate.
Firstly, women can’t have it all and it doesn’t help to pretend they can. Having established manary glands are demeaning and pointless it is useful to remember that breastfeeding is generally accepted as best for babies for at least 6 months and preferably 12 months. So, it is an exceptional mother than can have a high income, full time career whilst breastfeeding day and night. Therefore, ideally the mum will be mostly at home for at least the first 6 – 12months of a babies life (and not just for breastfeeding).
None of this is earth shattering news and I’m not adding anything to the debate so far. What I do differ in is my attitude after the first 12 months of a childs life. The pre-school, primary school and for that matter high school drop off and pick up is still dominated by the mother. Why?
Is it that families make rational decisions that they would rather have mum at home? Or is it that the balance is rarely discussed and men continue working full-time and mums are forced to fit around their kids? After the child/ren hit 12 months why don’t more men support their wife and quit their job or go part-time so that their wife can resume her career and the dad has a temporary hiatus? I suspect men aren’t prepared to rock the boat either at work or amongst friends. I currently work 4 days a week and am planning to further reduce this once junior hits 12months. I’m nervous about me but by then my wife will have been doing it for almost 4 years. Time to get some equality I think.
I briefly watched this video from 60 minutes and was stunned that the discussion could be reduced to aprons.
2 responses so far ↓
Bridget // July 4, 2009 at 4:51 pm |
I was interested to hear your comments about this… and I think you are in a kind of luxurious position about the husband/wife work thing. After five (nearly six) years of being at home while james works, he earns significantly more than I do (where we were on an equal footing to begin with) so that is part of the discussion; but as money is only part of the equation where we’re concerned (obviously!), I’ve also chosen to stay home until the youngest is two because I’d noticed that with numbers 1 and 2 that between the ages of 12-18 months they seemed to go through a prolonged period of separation anxiety (I’ve heard it’s not uncommon) and so I think that breastfeeding is only part of the equation. That said, there’s no way I’m doing most of it when they’re old enough to understand that Mama needs a life too!
Simone // July 13, 2009 at 7:21 pm |
I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every dad I heard say “I’d love to work part time but I can’t”. My response is why can’t you?..Usually the reasons are just lame. Come on dads, you are missing out.