The war on women really isn't about stay at home moms (SAHM) versus working moms (WOHM). It's about traditional versus non traditional roles of women. It's about the Republican agenda to keep women in their place.
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There are three acceptable types of moms.
1. Economically Struggling SAHM.
2. WOHM due to economic reasons. This may be single mothers/women whose partners make a very low salary.
3. SAHM such as Ann Romney who can afford help like nannies, housekeepers etc.
I happen to fall into a dreaded fourth option.
4. Moms who work outside the home because they like their careers.
I am everything that drives the Republican party batty.
I am a working mom. I have a beautiful child and I CHOOSE to work outside my home for reasons other than economic ones.
I have worked since I was 16 years old. Until my early 20's, I worked solely for economic reasons. I worked to pay off my student loans, I worked to pay my bills and I worked to eat.
I now work for some of the above reasons but I work for some additional ones now as well.
My husband and I could survive on his salary yet I still choose to work.
Right now half my audience is thinking I am one of those women. The ones that are trying to "keep up with the Jones". You would be wrong.
See the Republican agenda truly believes that a woman's place is in the home. They don't understand us hussies that go out take a perfectly good job away from a man.
See it's because women like me demand the following:
1. Better Maternity AND Paternity leave. I truly believe that in order for women and men to truly have choice in the country we need to stop thinking that it's a WOMAN's job to raise her family.
In Sweden when they started a "Use or Lose" policy for paternity, a funny thing happened. The number of men taking extended paternity leave rose dramatically and guess what they LIKED it. The number of women returning to the workforce also rose.
Employers stopped discriminating against women because they shared equal risk by hiring either a young man or woman.
2. Gender Equality. I hate housework. I hate changing diapers. I hate cooking dinner (actually I like cooking dinner). I hate the expectation that I should be the one that cooks dinner. One of the reasons I work is to force my husband to share equally in the domestic chores. That also means in raising our child.
3. Job Flexibility Options. I work to prove to my employer that working from home is a viable solution. I don't need to be in the office for "face time" to be a productive member. Most women in my office have negotiated working from home a few days a week. This allows us more time with our children and also to have a healthy productive work day. The funny thing is that almost all the men have taken advantage of working from home as well.
4. Affordable, Safe Childcare options. Yes, there is a village raising my child. It's myself, my husband and our carer who helps raise my child. Americans should be fighting for better childcare options.
See my fight isn't about Hilary Rosen or Ann Romney. It's about having the choice to make the best decision for MY family. I could care less if women work in the home or outside. I do care that there is a system in place that allows and supports me in making the best decision possible.