The Ladder by Mrs Duck
On an editors note, I am proud to say all I did on this post was a little spell check
A womans role has always been out of reach for most American women. Women are expected to be a Wife and mother first and everything else should come second. Men do not have these same pressures, but this is not the fault of men it is the fault of women. Most of us have to go to work everyday to support our families and must choose to either hire someone else to do the job at home or stay home and make ends meet. Some of us are luckier then others and they can choose. Some of us must go to work because we need to provide for there families. In either case there is something or someone who is not getting the attention they deserve.
Who raised the ladder? I truly think it is unfair that the ladder has been raised to this level. The reason no one asks men this question is that we do not expect men to climb the ladder this high.
What women should be shouting is that the ladder is too high and that we are expected to do it all, from being a wife, mother to our children, full time household duties, and not to mention a full-time career. How is it possible that something does not suffer? No one is saying what suffers, but something will. All working wife's and mothers know that they cannot do it all, it is too exhausting and physically impossible.
So how do we cope with this when we want the full-time career, or if we have to work to provide for our families?
Who is going to provide the love we cannot be there to provide full time?
Who will run the household responsibilities?
Who will make dinner? Who stays home when the child is sick?
Who provides the much needed hug when the children fall down and need that hug?
Who is going to work on homework and school projects? Who is attending the sporting events or watching the school play?
Who looks for the lost car keys?
Who is there for there spouse when he/she needs your help or advice?
Who is paying attention?
Who is attending the 8AM board meeting?
Who is schoomizing the clients?
Who is getting up at 4AM to catch the flight to the out of town meeting?
Who is staying to finish the monthly management reports?
We, as woman, hope to fit in all of our responsibilities of the day and hope that we are doing the best job we can, but believe me something or someone suffers. I believe the answer to who, is the WOMAN. The expectation to be the everything person is just to hard and unfair of a job for anyone. The only person who is sacrificed at the end of the day is the woman and the guilt of not being the best we can be at everything we touch. It is impossible to give 100% at work and at home everyday all day. The expectation is what is unfair. I do not believe this is the American Dream!
3 comments:
My entire life I've been told I can do anything and if I want I can do everything. I've been told this by feminists.
Now a NON-feminist has achieved this, and has done an excellent job along the way. Suddenly everywhere I look I'm told "No, woman can't do anything. A woman has to choose, and if they choose career then they'll be looked down upon"
It's absolutely shameful.
Oh, but hey - HAPPY ROCKIN' FRIDAY!! :)
I wouldn't say she's done an excellent job at anything, but that's my opinion.
However, what is at issue is when a woman says that her ability to juggle home/work demands makes her an excellent candidate, then don't we have the responsibility to question her abilities in that respect?
Mrs. Duck,
Very thought-provoking piece. Western Society moved so far so quickly (vis a vis the female gender role), that few people stopped to ask what the cost might be.
I would never argue that this movement into the fields traditionally dominated by men is a bad thing, or should (or even could) be undone.
But there are ramifications in all manners of things that come from this, and non-political honest discussion is a good start. Your words, while just a small slice, open up a big debate nicely. I think I will tell my readers to come see what you have to say.
As for Sparky, dude: I know you meant you're proud of your wife (in that you didn't write the piece), but what you actually said was that you were proud that you spellchecked. That you missed a typo in the second word would argue that maybe you should do your job a little better.
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