Things have changed! But not really, sort of back to what it once was.
According to this article in The New York Times, SAHM is a profession some Yale students are looking forward to.
When I was in my teens, the feminists were starting their crusade, encouraging women to adopt the same goals as men. Careers first, and kids are a burden. Many of the best and brightest of my generation never had kids, or managed one little miracle well into middle age, which while being better than none, is more difficult all around than having a few in one's twenties.
In the United States, the birth rate dropped in the 70's, even though baby-boomers were at their peak of fertility.
The saying was that all a parent needed to give was "quality time," and women could do it all, be top workers in elite careers and be mothers and just everything.
Well the kids born in the mid-1980's are now in college. They're the kids of "super mom" who either did the feminist dream or failed. Now the young ladies are studying hard, but don't plan on devoting their lives to their working careers. They hope to have kids and plan on enjoying the kids and taking a break from the work grind. They want to take their kids to the playground and the other perks of professional motherhood. Yes, the young women, the successful, top student, young women of today want it all. But for them "all" means knowing that their priorities will be their kids.
I think it's wonderful and wish them all lots of joy and lots of kids.
Yea for Moms! I am glad that more people are choosing to be home with their children these days. I am excited that women can do and be anything, and I hope my girls find a profession that they love. BUT I hope that if they can be SAHM, they will.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter took a 6 month maternity leave, double the Israeli minimum, and she's a lawyer.
ReplyDelete