The Mommy Wars
Many of us know about (or have even participated in) the mommy Wars; that never-ending argument between Working Moms and Stay-at-Home Moms.
In Germany, the societal perspective of describing mothers as "Rabenmuetter" still exists. Loosely translated as "cruel" mother, a lot of mothers are quick to stick this label to other mothers who have gone back to work earlier than they deem it right. Interestingly, the fact that this is the norm in other European countries does not seem to matter, at all.
I think, I can safely say that we have just about the same kind of thinking from other mothers all over the world.
Apparently, according to the Tyee, "the hair-pulling started with the trend reported a few years back of high-level female CEOs fleeing the boardroom in gloomy frustration as they tried unsuccessfully to balance parenting and work. This admission of defeat, from the mouths of high-powered women execs, was dismissed by feminists as a blatant exaggeration. Not surprisingly, it was heralded by neo-cons as proof that educated women should really stay home and parent."
We all need to make decisions based on our own situations. To carelessly judge that every one else should use the same yardstick is unfair. Besides, should being a mother and having a career be mutually exclusive? For some, probably the answer would be yes. But, it should not be used to judge every one else.
I will continue to defy the Rabenmuetter prejudice. Unless someone has walked in my shoes then, I will continue to ignore innuendos about the "evils" of being a working mother.
In my opinion, mothers should NOT fight. Instead, we should be offered more options so that the decisions we all make is based on what we really want and feel we and our children need rather than on what we "should" do.