[quote=Blogstar]
My decision not to take the sole breadwinner path was in part because of the government, I wanted to be liberated from the things you guys are legitimately terrified of and from Carenters man v. woman society which I think is prehistoric fantasy and manipulation. It is so condescending the way she says, “men are coming around “[/quote]
When I say that “men are coming around,” I mean that more men are open to doing what has always been considered “women’s work.” Or are you suggesting that men, in general, were always doing the caretaking (on the sly)?
Even my own rather liberal, progressive father — who had very flexible work hours and lots of time at home — didn’t do most of the caretaking and housework. He was an awesome dad, and I’ve never once in my life doubted his love for us; we were truly fortunate, and I will forever be grateful for having him in my life. He would play with us, and do some of the fix-it type work around the house, but I’ve never seen him with a vacuum cleaner or mop in his hand. Never saw him dust. Never saw him doing laundry (and since your family is as large as mine, you know how daunting the laundry, alone, can be). His idea of cooking was throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave if my mom was still out working or with her friends. We watched an **awful lot** of TV when my mother wasn’t home. And he was one of the better dads from those times. Most of my friends’ dads would come home from work and plop themselves in a recliner and watch TV or read newspapers until they went to bed. The wives did everything.
Because most men never did the caretaking/homemaking, they pushed the myth that this type of work was “not working,” and had no value (like most other “women’s work,” including teaching and nursing, as much of this work was essentially unpaid in times past). It’s how they kept women under their control. This is what many of the feminists have been trying to fight for — recognition that “women’s work” has value, even if it is not wage earning. Women (and men) in these positions should be empowered, not disparaged nor left destitute when their husbands (or wives) decide to “trade up” or abuse or abandon them. (Talk about risk!!!!)
Are you disagreeing with the fact that men’s perspectives (and society’s expectations) are changing, or? Why do you think that what I said is condescending?
