> > claudiouk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have two daughters myself - have been a very involved father, > finding parenting a learning, rewarding and sublime experience in its > own right. I want my daughters to have equal opportunities in the > world of work. The female contribution in the workplace nowadays is > essential both technically and in terms of their "people" skills; > equally, the most significant factor in the rise of children's > psychological and behavioural problems often relates to emotionally > absent fathers rather than mothers.. Restricting the VISION of the > female function in society to that of a MOTHER, whilst perhaps > understandable in a hunter-gathering or early agricultural community, > makes NO SENSE in a post-industrial society where families typically > have much fewer children and females have important career > contributions to make before and after having children. I personally > would be horrified if my daughters had to live in a Global Country > where the ideal was not that different from what the Talibans > consider most noble for their women - namely, having no civic rights > at all!! Surely what we all need is CHOICE and better QUALITY, > whatever that choice might be. > > So yes, I'm STILL puzzled why these clearly REGRESSIVE developments > don't bother meditators more..
I am concerned with this vision for women as a SOLE career path. On the other hand, I am concerned with a vision that a woman is not substandard if she chooses to be a stay-at home mom. My niece has chosen the later. (For now, who knows in 10 years?) My mom chose to be a stay-at home mom until I was about 10 and fully grown up (in my mind :)) and went back to work, got frustrated with that and started her own one-person company that 30 years later had 400 professional level employees (nursing and related fields) -- 80% women. My niece was totally brought up nurtured, encouraged, doors opened, mentored, and amply close to "walking the talk" examples etc to being a fast-track career or professional woman. One grandfather a professor, another founding and running a successful business. A father graduating from a top business school and successful on his career path. Her mother was a teacher. An uncle wih a MD and a PhD focusing on high powered medical research. And of course another neer-do-well floating around new-agey meditative career paths before finally getting somewhat real career-wise in his 30's. :) She was brought up to know, believe and even destined to be a successful professional or career person. She worked for a bit pre-marriage, but is thriving being at home with a 3 year old and another on the way. I personally am quite happy that she is living her bliss. Regardless of "family" hopes and expectations. Same goes for fathers at home. I don't think mothers have a monopoly on positive parental skills. Some guys may be better parents than their wives. And spending part or all of their careers doing so can be a great thing. And good for kids. My nurturing and mentoring experience would have been quite different if my dad was primary parent for some or several years. Same for caring for ageing parents. Often this is left to women. I took some years off from career to do that. It was an enriching experience for both myself, and hopefully my mom. I have recently gone back to corporate work, after a few years of working "on my own". People are receptive that I took time out from a good career to this, and took a career hit for doing so, but I can see the wheels spinning their heads trying to tactfully ask "how, why, what?, and huh? These thoughts tie to my adjacent post on genetic propensities. Everyone has lots of them. Some manifest and/or are appropriate at different times in their lives (hmm I smell jyotish here). One my have a 90% propensity to be a doctor, and successfully and happily follow that genetic propensity. But may career shift later to fulfill another propensity as a ski-instructor, artist or we-designer. Bottom line: Racial, gender, cultural, religious, age-based, hair-color, (or existence), physicality, appearance, height (managers and executives are statistically above average height), weight, health status, world-views, sexual-orientation, etc are all incoherent, irrational, unproductive, none-sensical, archaic, obsolete, hurtful, prejudicial, and down right stupid markers, criteria, bases, gut-feelings and frameworks for choosing, selecting, evaluating or judging others (or oneself) for career and other life choices. On the other hand, (ACURATE not myths) genetic propensities, multi-dimensional intelligence/emotional tests, fitness and health profiles are reasonable GUIDES to help individuals answer one of lifeâs biggest questions in life (doubly ironic and difficult in that it is imposed on us at a young age) -- what am I, should I be, will I be good at and happy doing in career and life.) Thus I have no problem with a department at MUM for Vedic Mothers and Wives, as long as this is an elective option course or degree, but not mandatory for all women. Plus in my past experience, no current such, MMY had lots of smart, articulate, high powered women around him and gave them lots of responsibilities. (Until they went off and had babies.)
