Response to Belkin

I found Belkin's Opt-Out article very interesting. I found it fascinating to read the stories of real women who had chosen to leave careers for motherhood, especially because they were women with Ivy League educations. I honestly can see both sides of this argument. Obviously leaving a job to stay at home with children is not an option for everyone, as many of Belkin's critics point out. But if a woman has the resources to stay home who is to say that she shouldn't? On the other hand, doesn't it create a brain drain of sorts? If the women who are leaving careers are the ones who have good educations and who are attaining high level positions then it is unfortunate. It is important for women to keep making strides in employment and when women leave it proves the point of many- women can be paid less because they are less reliable.

I do believe that American work places do need to make the work environment more friendly to women with families. If work places were more flexible then more women might stay in the work force. Many responses to Belkin's article cite inflexible work places as a reason why women leave, not that they are "opting-out."

My mom worked the entire time that I was growing up, so I have always had a hard time understanding stay-at-home moms. To me it seemed that my mom always did it all- she cared for me, took care of the house, and worked. Now I see how much a factor my grandma was. She has lived with us since I was three years old. She worked too, but her hours were much more flexible. She could pick me up from school and would make dinner for me while my mom was at work. We were fortunate enough to be able to hire a housekeeper to clean once a week so that no one had to bother with that. There was also just me. If my parents had had more children I think things would have been different. Though we really needed my mom's income, it would have been harder for her to work the long hours required for her to move up the ladder.

Like I said, I can see both sides of the argument. I think it is great for women to be able to stay home with their kids, but I think if a woman wants to work that is great too.