This is a refreshing take on the Neil-French-maid-crap-WPP issue. Jamie of the pictures has the issue French-fried thusly.
(click and view larger image)
Which also lets me link to this fabulous blog I discovered – words & pictures. Graham, the words in this team says this – It’s predictable, but still disappointing, that most of Neil’s critics have been female and most of his supporters male. It’s also amusing to note that many critics, having the courage of their convictions, post to blogs using their real names while the apologists invariably hide behind pseudonymous Hotmail addresses.
And ends with a sentiment many of us have expressed and agree with – Balancing work and family is something both sexes struggle with on a daily basis.
words & pictures is updated every Monday – and I cannot think of a better way to begin my Mondays.
***
That done, I must point you to my response to the comments on the earlier post. Sure, both men and women find it tough to balance family and career. But I would like to see men who have actualy given up jobs to take care of family / babies. Or even decided to go easy. In case of the women, it is a complete non win-win situation (whatever that means) – I have seen women who have got back to work after babies and stayed “committed” to work – there is a harsh judgment here too – they are selfish and aggressive and basically “unmaternal”. No, not win-win at all.
Hi Charu,
You wrote: “I would like to see men who have actualy given up jobs to take care of family / babies. Or even decided to go easy.”
While I have yet to see a man give up a job or “go easy” in India, it happens relatively frequently in the U.S. For example, my high school had a paternity leave option, and a few of the teachers used this leave to raise their newborns. While the majority of couples still go the traditional route (i.e. man works harder to make more money, as woman either quits or temporarily cuts back from work to raise the children), there is a growing proportion of stay-at-home dads in the U.S.
Charu,
I’ll agree with Vikrum. I know a few men who have taken the plunge to take care of the baby, while the mom worked.
There’s even one example of Michael’s recent post….here, the woman was the higher-wage earner, with a better job than the guy (who’s job wasn’t bad). When they had kids, after the woman came back from maternity leave (a short one), the guy took 2 months off his job to take care of the baby. And then he started work, but works shorter hours, to pick up the baby from day care, and go home.
Maybe, there are case studies. But these are certainly exceptions. And very hard to come by – especialy in India.