A mom I know dropped out of college a year before getting her degree and worked full-time at a taco shop when pregnant so she would be able to be a stay-at-home mom. She is one of the smartest women I know, speaks multiple languages, and reads philosophy in her spare time. But people still look down on her for her decision. A woman who was supposedly her friend even commented, when this mom's daughter was in elementary school, "well maybe when your daughter grows up she can drop out of school and work fast food too!", in a tone that clearly showed her disdain for this mom's decision, and her thought that this mom was setting a bad example for her daughter.
That's because this woman bought into an attitude that pervades our society, essentially arguing that you are "less" of a woman/person if you don't acheive some level of success at a career. Yet most men and women don't have meaningful jobs. That's not to say they aren't important and necessary, for society as a whole and for the finances of the individual workers. But for most people, work isn't where they seek intellectual fulfillment and what they gauge their self-worth on. Otherwise, the baristas, janitors, bank tellers, etc in the world would be in trouble. There's nothing wrong with being employed in those fields. But they aren't exactly rocket science. For the most part these jobs could be held by pretty much anyone, and while they keep society running, don't really change anything. If you are a retail manager like I was pre-baby, you don't go to work for intellectual stimulation-- you do it for a paycheck! And this is (part) of why the attitude I mentioned earlier is so absurd.
While I think women should certainly have the right to work in any job, and realize that for many it is a financial necessity, I absolutely disagree with the proposition that women are in any way "better" for working rather than staying home with kids, or that childbearing should be delayed until after you become successful in your career.The scientific studies showing the benefits of having a stay-at-home mom are numerous, and the tug of a mommy's heart to be by their little one constantly is undeniable. I think regardless of what type of job they work, women should not be made to feel bad about themselves because they think the best way to care for their children is to stay at home with them. Without taking away any opportunities from the working women, our society needs to once again acknowledge that being a full-time mommy instead of a careerwoman is an equally valid choice.
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