Hirschman's argument is based on two assumptions which I find highly suspect.
The first is that women who work have some automatic part of the power process - 'influence ... a way of being political.... a hand in the shaping of the world around you'. Really? Really? Perhaps if you're a supreme court judge. Or the head of medical ethics at the local university. Or a politician. But what about if you're a family physician? Or the human resources director for a mid-sized IT company? Or a clerk at a local department store? What huge influence comes from these positions? The working mothers I know are librarians, nurses, teachers, administrators, accountants ... Certainly, they are university educated, smart women. But is there anything inherently powerful in these positions? They are valuable contributions to our society and our economy, and yes, they put money in the woman's pocket, which allows her some freedom of action to determine her life course. But what huge opportunity for being political, or perhaps the correct word is civic, is so inherent in those positions?
The second assumption is a corollary of the first - that women who don't work, don't have a part in the power process and can't influence society. Bah! As Margaret Mead said "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." I know this, deep in my bones. I was a La Leche League Leader for seven years. LLL has changed the world, and was started by 7 women, who by the way, were mothers at home.
The underlying premise of this assumption is that women who don't work, don't think.
In fact, we have more time to think. We have more time to be activists, to organize, to agitate, to be agents of change, to rabble-rouse, to volunteer, to keep large non-profit organizations, which as a whole have tremendous influence, running. Far from shrinking the sphere of influence, the opportunity to be home can be a vast expansion of interest, intellectual growth and yes, influence, in our communities, our organizations, and our political sphere.
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4 comments:
work allows 'influence ... a way of being political.... a hand in the shaping of the world around you'?
Puhleez.
People work to pay the bills. People exert influence and shape the world around them when they are able to do so and commit to doing so.
Do you know how many Upper East Side mamas work (erm, I can count them on one hand), yet belong to every type of influential committee known to man and Madison Avenue?
Hey there. I started to reply in your comment box, realized I had too much to say, and moved it to M-mv. Here's a link:
http://mentalmultivitamin.blogspot.com/2006/06/more-work.html
Thanks for your entry and email message.
Postscript: My word verification is lwizlgg. Why does that look so... *cute*?
I'm organizing my thoughts about this. MFS asked for folks to not respond without reading the entire excerpt, but I have to take it in small doses.
To think that my well-paid work was influential and meaningful ... that's a good one. Maitresse has it right. Few people have the kinds of paid work spoken of in the article. How can the rest of us be influential? Let me count the ways ...
If it wasn't you, dear hornblower, I wouldn't be wading into this at all or adding one iota of thought or blogspace to this latest round of Hirshman's nonsense.
Ever notice how it's the upper crusties with nannies and adult children and book contracts (not to mention, ahem, books to sell) lobbing the initial grenades, leaving who they no doubt view as the "parent peasants" on both sides of the trenches, including the hordes of derided mommy bloggers, to continue the battle? And in this case Mme. Manifesto doesn't even care about the hordes. She's concerned about the future Hillary Rodhams, Condi Rices, and Madeline Albrights, but is giggling all the way to the bank, or at least to the next interviewer, as everyone else takes up cudgels to keep her little red book in the public eye. Cute, ain't it, how after enough months had passed after last year's brouhaha, now Hirshman stirs up a new pot with her Post article and blog, and just after her "manifesto" has been published. Definitely a talent for marketing, there.
No thanks to all of that, which is why I tend to give the Mommy Wars (I can't even write that without gagging) and their generals a wiiiiiide berth.
Bringing LLL into your comments was brilliant, because wasn't it was LLL and breastfeeding where the whole "pass the bean dip" strategy started? Whether you're contending with homeschooling, organic farming, or staying at home on one side, and doubting inlaws, nosy neighbors, or pushy professors on the other, I still think the best approach is a blank smile and "Hmmm, how 'bout those Mets?" Which is as good a way as any to stay a conscientiously conscientious objector in the Mommy Wars : ).
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