Friday, July 6, 2012

Can women really 'have it all'?

Twice within the past week I've seen fascinating TV programs about women having it all. Such a comment begs the question that was, in fact, raised by panelists in both cases: Whatever does "all" mean?

No one really answered that question. In the early days of feminism, it meant you could raise children and have a career.  That was a good thing for many women, right? But, of course, it also set women up to try to do everything—and perfectly: be the perfect wife, mother, employee, coworker, and everything else.

So many good points were raised during the discussion on both those programs, not the least of which is the idea that we women want to be careful that we're not set up against each other. We should be able to choose the life we want: Do we want to be single or married? If married, do we want to have children? (Child-rearing isn't for everyone.) Do we want to be a stay-at-home mom or have a career? Or some combination of the two? Or do it serially? Do we involve our husbands and partners in the child-rearing or try to do it single-handedly? So many choices. And often, they don't really seem like choices.

Another important point was raised: Many of the world's women do not have the luxury of such choices. They simply have to work and raise children. 

It's important to not judge another woman for her choices. What works for me may not work for you. Your choice might not be mine. That's quite all right. We choose. And then we live with that decision. And in the best of all worlds, we work for and support all women everywhere in their choices.

What's your experience with such choices? Please share with us in the Comment box below.

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