Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Snippets from around the horn today that I really need to get off my plate. Warning: some of them are a bit stale.

For starters, I wanted to flag this piece from the UK's Observer on balancing family and work. It's notable for integrating gender into the equation.

On this side of the pond, the Wall Street Journal let loose earlier this month with this article about mothers struggling to re-enter the workforce. This brought a few different reactions. The first: what a pity. The Journal did a a similar story on at-home dads last year, and in both cases it seemed a shame that these capable workers are left out in the cold. Fortunately, there's a new book by Ann Crittenden coming out this summer that should poke some holes in the idea that at-home parents who re-enter the workforce are a step behind.

I had another reaction, too, which is that these mothers must be feeling lied to. It seem to be very hip to talk about "sequencing" -- the idea that a parent (usually mom) can slip out the workforce, raise the kids and then re-join the work world with no ill effects. But as the story points out, there is a cost to that decision that seems to be minimized ahead of time. Of course, that career cost reflects a certain hostility toward parents and would be greatly reduced if we could get the business world to adopt better family-friendly policies (and get men and women like to use those policies).

Finally, let me direct your attention to this TV station bit on Boise at-home dads. Not only is it remarkably sensitive for a brief piece, but it ends with this kick=ass kicker:
Just don't call those guys "Mr. Mom", they are dads making a choice to have a closer role in raising their precious children. A role you might consider for yourself.
Couldn't have said it better m'self.

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