I found both readings very interesting and eye-opening. Both authors/speakers had interesting opinions that I both agree with and had never noticed before, particularly with Caitlin Moran's observation about woman being asked when they want children. If Terry Crews and Caitlin sat down together and talked about feminism there would be a fair amount of agreement between the two, but at some point everyone disagrees about something that they have in common. I think that to an extent, Terry would agree with Caitlin about her views of women and how they are expected to have children. Caitlin says "When people ask working women, "when are you going to have a baby?" what they're really asking is "when are you going to leave?"" At this, I think Terry would disagree with Caitlin's view that once you have a child, your career is over. Terry and his wife have a child--a son--and they both have successful careers. Terry wouldn't agree that just because a woman has a child, she wouldn't be able to do what she loves and that a child wouldn't be a hindrance on her or her career.
Terry, in his interview, talks about men and how it's okay for them to be feminists and that it's not bad to view women as equals or to express oneself. When you view someone as an equal, especially with your partner or significant other, you don't leave them to deal or care for something by themselves. So tying back in with the views on women and children, men are not overly affected by having a child--as stated by Caitlin. Men don't have to carry the child for nine months, they don't have to push a baby out of their body, and if they so choose, they don't even have to deal with the child. Yet there are still those few who "hand in hand with their partners and cut the sleeplessness and the fear...50/50." This is where both would agree with each other. Terry, as someone who helps take care of his son, would agree that it wouldn't be unmanly to help care for a child. Caring for a child or a family had always been a role given to women while the men were to provide for them and so it is not expected by society for men to help care for the child. But when women are viewed as equals, it is not a "role" that they have but a "partnership."
I have to completely agree with you. It is about partnership, child care is and should be shared by both parents 100/100 (both have to put 100% into it). Both Crews and Moran understand that the social norm of gender inequality needs to be corrected. You have greatly summed up what both Crews and Moran were talking about.
ReplyDeleteChild care is intended for two people. It is common for people to think, like the text claims, "men can ,pretty much, carry on as normal once they've had a baby." I agree that the parental role is mostly set on the women by society. What women mainly are guilty of is believing that their academic and professional careers are over. While, for women, excessively caring for their child is natural and important, to some extent women should make time for them to grow as an individual as well. More women should be reminded that a parental job is one that is meant for two.
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