You're a stay-at-home mom? What do you DO all day?
Both of my sisters came to stay with me this weekend. They are both married and not much older than me. At one point they were joking around and calling me a feminist, which got me thinking this week about women and how I really view their role as a gender.
I am not a feminist, I know my sisters were only joking because I do make a big deal about how women should be strong and independent, but I do not support getting on a high horse, abdicating the immense responsibilities as the core of the family, and "empowering" yourself as a working woman who thinks she's better than a man. I merely mean women should not rely so heavily on men or others to do everything for them or to feel validated. They should take courage and pride in themselves and be confident in whatever they do, especially if it is the most honorable lifestyle of staying home and raising a family.Then while I was thinking about what to do for this perception of stereotypes assignment, I read the above article and began to think about how our society is in fact progressively down-playing the importance of stay-at-home mothers. Of course I know it is necessary for a lot of moms to work because of their financial situations, but I'm mainly talking about the people who look down at the moms who choose to stay home.
I really liked this article about it because it was not a religious piece, which I tend to stray from because, to the outside world, they lack credibility. It was simply a man defending the role of a stay-at-home mom. Today the world views mother's who stay at home as "copping-out" or not reaching their full potential, but what could be more demanding and rewarding and influential then raising children to reach THEIR full potential?These mothers do more in a day for their families and consequently for society than most in the working force could ever hope to do, and society looks down upon them. It's a shame because by staying at home and working tirelessly day in and day out to raise these children, these moms are in fact shaping our society on a daily basis. And they don't get to "clock out" at the end of the day and get paid for it. They do, however, lead much more purposeful and fulfilling lives.
Stay at home moms are such an unappreciated, over stereotyped group! I love that you point out all the media portrayals about them and how untrue they are. Go moms!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I am not a stay at home mom, nor a woman, and so my insight and opinions may not fully grasp the implications of this stereotype. But I could not agree more with your comments and views that a woman should be free to do whatever she feels best at or that which her situation demands.
ReplyDeleteI love stay at home moms! They are the best!
ReplyDeleteI jokingly asked my mom this question one day - that was a NO-NO. Stay at home moms are very under appreciated for what they contribute to a family and how they keep a family upon a strong foundation.
ReplyDeleteI love your view on this subject. Like you, I believe that women should not be dependent on men for validation, etc. I also deeply value and respect the profession of being a stay-at-home mom. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and I would not be the person I am today without her many diligent and focused efforts on my behalf. This goes along with the saying, "You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can't count the apples in a seed." Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with everything you said! Working moms are becoming more and more common, which means stay-at-home moms are becoming less and less common. It blows my mind as to why some women are so set on being equal to, or rather better than, men. For example, 150 women tried to get into the Priesthood session of General Conference last weekend. Of course they were not let in, but the point they were trying to make was ridiculous. Women are not meant to have the Priesthood. Our role in life is to bear and raise children with a husband who holds the Priesthood. Women and men are not unequal in the Church; they just have different responsibilities. This is how God intended it to be.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this! My mom stayed at home the entire time I was growing up, and I'm so grateful to her for all of her hard work. I think most of us can say that our mom is our best friend, so it really frustrates me when people act like being a stay-at-home mom isn't worthwhile. Moms are tougher and more hard-working than just about everyone else!
ReplyDeleteLove your article! As I was reading this, I realized how great it is that we have our own Latter Day Saint community that glorifies the divine role of motherhood even if the world degrades it. We can surround ourselves with LDS news and literature that reinforces our beliefs. This also shows the difficulty of seeing through another group's lens of perception. It can be a difficult balance! We all have our biases.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your view, and whether you like it or not, what you expressed is definitely a form of feminism. Feminism is not just about being a "career-woman" and dominating men; it's about making your own choice and being confident in living out your choices. Overall, I think people should stop making such accusations about women, whether they work or stay home. Everyone's situation is different and they're making that choice for various reasons.
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