The Difference Between Men and Women

Posted by marykeating on November 3, 2010 under Family responsibility | Be the First to Comment

Don’t know much about history.  Don’t know much biology.  What I do know is that “men are big and strong and women have babies.”  Therefore “women are made to care for the family,” and “men can be counted on to work long hours to bring home the bacon.”

Sounds like the early 60s, like the song quoted?  Sure, but these attitudes are still alive and well.  We do not have a law in this State outlawing family responsibility discrimination.  Women who are caring for young babies can be overlooked for promotions merely on the assumption that they can’t be counted on to give work priority.  But men are subject to antiquated assumptions too: men are assumed to be available for assignments outside of the normal work day, because fathers don’t care about soccer games or ballet recitals.  “Men don’t take off serious time when a baby is born.”  “Women can’t be counted on to return after a baby is born.”

If we can’t have a law to stop the discrimination, we can work to change the attitudes.  Joan Williams blogged about the subject of her new book, titled Reshaping the Work-Family Debate:  Why Men and Class Matter. The book talks about professional men and how they are burdened by the assumptions that they live for work and success.  She estimates it will take another half-dozen years to continue the discussion about men in the workplace who want to focus on their families (or other interests), too, before we arrive at a more balanced outlook of the issue.  That is not to say that the issue will be solved, but we may be past some of the stigma of a man asking for time off for family priorities.