Fox News anchor Megyn
Kelly was fit
to be tied over the reaction of Fox Business host Lou Dobbs and Fox News contributor Erick
Erickson to a Pew study showing that 40% of women are
primary breadwinners.
Both Dobbs and Erickson
pointed to the study as proof that the American family is in a bad way, and
Kelly, herself a working mother, took extreme exception to the view that women who
work aren't as good moms as the stay-at-home kind.
And while I wouldn’t
expect Kelly to warm to this theory, I was a little surprised by her strong
objections, because, let’s face it, Dobbs and Erickson aren’t exactly saying anything
new. We’ve been hearing this stuff forever.
One thing I will say
about Erickson, who wrote a blog
in response to some of the criticism
his views have generated, is that (the reference to feminists aside), I actually agree with him that “In modern
society, we are supposed to applaud feminists who teach women they can have it
all—that there is no gender identifying role and women can fulfill the role of
husbands and fathers just as men do.”
Again, I want to leave
the feminists out of it, because I’m not sure who’s behind this message, but I
agree that someone is pushing it. It’s not popular to state a belief that
men and women are different—and that what Mom brings to the table Dad doesn’t
and vice versa. Which is not to say that all moms are one way, and all dads are
another way—they aren’t—but moms are dads are different. Men and women are
different. And before you say, “Well that’s obvious. Don’t be ridiculous,”
don’t bother denying that there are plenty of single mothers who would tell you
in a heartbeat that they don’t need no stinkin’ man to raise their babies. And
while personally I agree that if push came to shove I don’t need no stinkin’
man either, my sons certainly do. And since my husband helped make them, he can
damn sure help raise ‘em. I’m not sure why there’s controversy in that
sentiment, but there is.
But as for working moms
in general, well, I’ve been a working mom since Day 1, having gotten pregnant
with my oldest when I was in college. So I know that at times it’s no bed of
roses and that I get tired and cranky and don’t feel like cooking or checking
homework, but it’s a choice. I like work and I like earning my own money, and
I’m gifted at it,
so I really don’t care who thinks I should live a more selfless life in
complete tribute to my kids. Phooey on that. Kids grow up and develop their own
interests, and I’m pretty sure those interests don’t include taking care of me
in my old age. (In fact, I'm certain of it.) So, I better make a living. As for my husband, he’s a social
worker. ‘Nuff said. (And if anybody wants to write to Congress about how
social work agencies make millions—I’ve already seen the 990 for my husband’s
agency so don’t bother disagreeing—and pay social workers peanuts, be my
guest.)
And so, I enjoyed seeing
Kelly hashing it out with Dobbs and Erickson, but at the end of the day, it’s
the same old same old, and who cares ‘cause I need to make a living and pay my
bills.
What about you?
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