It’s an age-old debate come to surface again recently. A former State Department policymaker, Anne-Marie Slaughter, admitted to “The Atlantic” that her attempt at trying to balance work and family didn’t go as she would have liked.
It comes down to the issue of, “Can a woman have it all?” Can she work outside of her home and take care of her family? And can she do it without having regrets or feeling guilt?
After Slaughter admitted to her struggles, other working moms began to voice their opinions. They would like to see more flexibility on the job as well. Women from all types of careers—social workers and police officers—could relate to her woes.
Could it be that we have been duped into believing what the feminist movement has tried to sell us? That as women we really can have it all?
In my humble opinion, very few women experience this. Most working women find that something ends up getting the short end of the stick.
I personally experienced this when I attempted to work full-time outside the home. Up until my children were in the 7th, 4th and 2nd grade, I had been a stay-at-home mom.
Almost immediately the guilt began to form. I would think about how someone else had to pick my kids up from school. And I absolutely hated the fact that they had to let themselves in and be alone for a couple of hours.
That guilt was further exacerbated the day I got a frantic call at school. Our dogs had escaped from the yard. My kids had to chase them down the street, with one of our pugs almost getting hit by a car.
It was a helpless feeling that I certainly didn’t like. I lasted just three months in that job and then finally quit.
Now I don’t say this to add guilt onto the shoulders of working women. I say this as a tribute to them because I know it isn’t easy.
Can women really have it all? I think there are some scenarios when this is true. But I also think it’s a false message for most.
Related Articles:
Working Part-Time Offers the Best of Both Worlds
Teenagers Aren’t the Only Ones Who Feel Pressure
The Importance of Quality Time
Photo by The Library of Congress in Flickr