Wannabe soccer moms, part deux
September 23, 2005News & Politics
Though note that Kulish is careful not to rebut the fallacious assumption of the original Times article, i.e. more women are opting to stay home. And so his position ends up sounding patronizing and selfish: "Just because you want to stay home and play Mommy, I ain't supporting you and the brats."
As I said before, raising kids is hard work -- work that gets little recognition from society or it seems young "open-minded" men like Kulish. Men of his generation may have been "brought up to accept and even embrace equality between the sexes," but thus far there is little proof that it extends to housework. Yes, men do more than two decades ago, but women still carry the greater part of the domestic burden, whether or not they stay at home. (Not including many of my male readers who are surely exceptions to the norm.)
Guess no one told Nicholas about the "second shift" -- which must be why his definition of new masculinity seems to entail not killing that nasty spider and getting his chest waxed.
Turns out the young ladies ought to have consulted their would-be soccer dads before making their life plan. Here's Nicholas Kulish raining on their parade:
Expressions like "choosing to have a career" have misled some women. Not working is no longer a choice for many. It's a luxury - or at a minimum, a serious sacrifice.
Maybe the women questioned have reverted to an even older stereotype: going to college to catch husbands. Those Yale boys are earners, aren't they? But as you earn more, the price tag goes up for each child. Tack on braces and fancy strollers, matching family iPods and headrest video monitors so baby geniuses can watch "Madagascar" on their way to violin lessons, and the price soars. The estimated cost per child jumps over $350,000 for upper-income families.
The Yalies planning their escape from the work force before they've even entered it may be in for a big shock. They may not have enough money. Or a lot of men are going to have to find new sources of income, and fast. On behalf of American men, young and open-minded, I beg you to reconsider. I thought we had a deal. [LINK thanks to David Addams]Hmm, what was that line I had about the odds of landing that commitment-eager Mr. Right willing to keep mom and baby in due style ... I'd say "I told you so" except I'd scare myself by sounding exactly like my mother.
Though note that Kulish is careful not to rebut the fallacious assumption of the original Times article, i.e. more women are opting to stay home. And so his position ends up sounding patronizing and selfish: "Just because you want to stay home and play Mommy, I ain't supporting you and the brats."
As I said before, raising kids is hard work -- work that gets little recognition from society or it seems young "open-minded" men like Kulish. Men of his generation may have been "brought up to accept and even embrace equality between the sexes," but thus far there is little proof that it extends to housework. Yes, men do more than two decades ago, but women still carry the greater part of the domestic burden, whether or not they stay at home. (Not including many of my male readers who are surely exceptions to the norm.)
Guess no one told Nicholas about the "second shift" -- which must be why his definition of new masculinity seems to entail not killing that nasty spider and getting his chest waxed.
