Hi Anonymous Commenter--Thanks for the fun article read: Why There's No Such Thing as Having it All by Lori Gottlieb (response piece to the infamous Slaughter article).
I think Gottlieb made some excellent points (dare I say she even echoed my own sentiments about the destructive corporate culture of 24-7 connectivity that is tearing the fabric of our souls to shreds?) and I've always loved her insights and writing. Full disclosure--LOVED her book--Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough (or something like that).
But what's with all the b*tchiness?
Her tone was just so mean.
I admit Slaughter's proffered solutions to the problem of 'work-life' balance were unrealistic and totally ripped apart by Gottlieb's rapier-sharp logic. But man, chill out.
Slaughter made at least a few good points and presented one very profound question:
Is there significant societal value in having mothers proportionately represented in top professional positions?
Right now, working moms face the problem that Slaughter and Gottlieb both admit to--they can NOT have it all. They can not be 'present' mothers AND hold top-level demanding positions (in the majority of fields) simply because of the nature of the job.
Right now women have a choice--be a mom OR get that top title. And a lot of people (perhaps Gottlieb as well) say that's all fine and dandy. Everyone faces choices. Be grateful you have a choice. Women have choices!!! Feminism won.
But I think Slaughter is asking the next big question--are we okay with this? As a society, do we lose out if women have to make this kind of choice? If society IS better off with having moms represented in top positions, then what can we possibly do from a policy perspective to create this better world?
And the answer might very well be--nothing. There's nothing we can do. That's just the way things are. We cannot grow wings. A leopard cannot change its spots. Mothers of children under 18 can not be top policy advisors to the president. And as Gottlieb would say--we all have limitations--live with it, suck it up.
But I think it's at least a discussion worth having.
2 comments:
I would like to print 500 copies of your statement--" the destructive corporate culture of 24-7 connectivity is tearing the fabric of our souls to shreds"--and run around my law firm tossing them in the air. Then I would like to set it up on a loud speaker on loop for an entire week.
LOL! You have my copyright permission to do just that! Sometimes I imagine jumping on an all-attorney lunch table and shouting "WE NEED TO UNIONIZE!" a la Sally Field in that Norma Rae movie.
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