I went to a seminar last week organized by cross-disciplinary feminist scholars to discuss the latest book by Ann Crittenden. After Ann finished her summary of the book, the discussion took an odd turn. Instead of talking about how mothers could be using their skills in the market place, the scholars instead brought up the issue of security moms.
Security moms are supporting Bush because of they feel that he will keep the country safer. In academia, Bush supporters are Satan’s minions. The discussants felt more comfortable talking about mothers as Satan’s minions than talking about the positive nature of caring work.
A few months back, I was sleuthing around for political mothers groups, and I went over to the NOW website to see what they had to say. There had very little information devoted to mothers and children. There was a lot information for women who didn’t want to become mothers, but not much for the others. And certainly nothing for women who raised their children at home. NOW could be advocating for a social security credit for SAHMs.
Some mother friends are down right resentful that nobody ever told that this would be so hard. The promise of “having it all” has not materialized and, frankly, they blame the feminists for glossing over the difficulties.
Other friends are angry at older feminists for downplaying the work at home. Success has been defined solely in terms of keeping up with the guys in the office. Caring for the family is old fashioned, conservative, and even dangerous. Mothers are now flocking to self-help groups because they have such bad self esteems.
Have feminists undermined the work of mothers? Can they take some responsibility for the unhappiness of mothers today?