Does it Pay for Mom to Work?
The CBS story, “Does it Pay for Mom to Work?” offers some good information to consider when evaluating if both parents should work, but, I really hate the title.
It was almost enough to make me skip over the entire article.
If the point of the article is:
No matter what, while the decision for one member of the household to stay at home or work is a personal one, it also includes a number of important financial considerations that impact on the household finances and should be carefully considered.
Why does the title so condescendingly read “mom”?
It makes you think it’s going to be a script for a man to use when the (quotes mine) “little woman who asks her husband if she can get a job”.
I usually don’t notice things like this, but, this one stood out to me since there are plenty of dads at home who may be evaluating this matter, and, there are mothers who make the larger portion of the household income.
Why is this title necessary, especially when the article itself reads “second income”, and, “member of the household”?
Tags: Career and Kids, CBS, Does-it-Pay-for-Mom-to-Work, Working-Parents
8 opinions for Does it Pay for Mom to Work?
sista smiff
May 13, 2007 at 6:31 am
For me, I work mostly so we can have health insurance. It sure ain’t cause I make so much money. That’s why I want to change it so I can have more options!
Nashville is Talking » Stow Away Your Stereotypes
May 14, 2007 at 9:46 am
[…] Elizabth’s right. There is no need for that article to single out mothers. It is no longer acceptable to assume that the man of the family earns more money or that he won’t be the one to choose to stay at home. Actually, it hasn’t been acceptable for a long time. Spread It Around: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
Mari
May 15, 2007 at 7:14 am
What a horrible title, you are right! My husband stays home with the kids, and I am the ONLY bread-winner. There was no question that one of us would stay home, and my working is the best for all of us. I can make more money, and my husband is wonderful with the kids.
I hate that people always act surprised and call my husband “Mr Mom” because he stays home, yet when women stay home, there is nothing said about it. He isn’t “Mr. Mom!” Staying home doesn’t change his gender! He is Dad, and he is a great one!
JayMonster
May 16, 2007 at 9:16 am
What I find so funny (not haha funny) is how many people (and at one time admittedly myself– pre daughter) would have just completely glanced over the title and not given it a second thought.
The title is not (I don’t believe) even an “accident” or based on “outdated stereotypes” unfortunately because there is still a large cadre of people, including some powerful ones (i.e. Dr. James Dobson) that are out there preaching that a “woman’s place” is in the home. Period. And that a woman working is wrong. Regardless of family situation, earning potential, etc.
It is some twisted wish to return to a “golden era” that never actually existed except in the minds of these clods that somehow blame women working on all the ills of the world. And titles like this are specifically done, one to pander to those people, but also two to try and guilt women and make them question themselves for no valid reason.
Is it wrong? Of course it is wrong. Could it could have been phrased as “parent”? Of course it could, but that doesn’t fit today’s political agenda.
Rebecca
May 21, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Jaymonster, I could not have said it better! You are totally right. I always notice articles on the news and on the internet that try to blame “working mothers” for some societal problem. It seems like there’s a new one every week. Childhood obesity, divorce rates, etc. It really makes me sick. And I don’t even have kids.
Lisse
May 22, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Yes, it is condescending, just like the fact that ads for cleaning products are still directed exclusively to women. But if you juxtapose that headline with the numerous stories about how much less women are still earning v. men, and the NPR item I heard today about the increasing employment discrimination against pregant women, sadly, the headline makes perfect sense.
Teri
May 23, 2007 at 7:14 am
You are right to call them on this inappropriate title. When I went to Journalism School, we learned that the person who writes the story is not the person who writes the title.
I am childfree, and as a non-mom I have the same conversation with myself about whether or not it pays and will our lives run as smoothly if I am working full-time? Do I really want someone else to clean my house, shop, cook, etc?
I do not have a career. Earlier, in my 20s and 30s I really tried, often ending in disillusion and disappointment, and frankly not having that much fun. I have had lots of interesting, fun jobs. You never know what I will do next, but I will continue to make my family-of-two and my extended family a priority.
I am a homemaker without the implied kids. This headline does not apply to me either!
Moms using the Internet to “have it all”
May 26, 2007 at 8:15 am
[…] an interesting read even though it uses mom (as opposed to “parent”) again like the other article, and, it does cover the pros and […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: