Mothers ought to have equal rights. Right?

I had lunch with Valerie Young earlier this week.  She pays close attention to the policy and politics of the issues that affect us mothers in the nation's capital.  She's like the eyes and ears of mothers everywhere - in DC.  Right where we need her!

She represents the National Association of Mother Centers, which has an initiative called "Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights."  Hear, hear.  Here's how they describe themselves:

MOTHERS is a netroots community of mothers and other family caregivers who look after children or other dependent family members. We promote social change to enhance the economic security of those who do carework, both exclusively or in conjunction with paid employment.

In addition to working for pretty much exactly what Activistas stands for, Valerie writes a great blog called Your (Wo)Man in Washington, based on her deep, historical and personal knowledge of the issues, policies, and politics that surround motherhood.  She (very generously) agreed that we can share some of her posts here on Activistas, which thrills me since our issues and goals so closely align, and our focus is increasingly on Oregon.  Plus, you'll get to hear the inside-the-beltway scoop as it happens  - and someone else's strong opinions!

So, here's a recent one, suggesting that the notion of mothers succeeding at work - whatever their work - shouldn't be some dreamy "how does she DO it?" miracle, but rather a standard, even commonplace, accepted option.  But until working mothers are supported by the public policies that dictate far too many of our choices, it won't be.  Valerie writes:

"The Clijsters narrative is not just about an underdog’s comeback, but about the dreamy, irresistible illusion the 1970s wrought: the fantasy that women can be all things, the idealized mother and the brilliant professional at the height of her game."

          Oh, please. Puh-leeeze.

I admit I was not politically active in the 1970's, but I was dimly aware of the women's liberation movement. It was hardly dreamy or illusory. The ideal at issue was the ability of women to pursue any field or occupation they desired and not be restricted to a few due to their gender alone. Also under debate was the right to be compensated fairly for the work they did.

Decades later, the range of feminine achievement is vast, thanks to an enormous amount of effort and sacrifice and suffering. While pay equity cases are still being litigated, at least women are earning the same prize money insome professional sporting competitions. It is really no surprise that women can achieve great things both before and after bearing children. Kind of just like.....men.

It's hard to idealize motherhood if you've ever actually so much as dipped your big toe into it. I can't think of any other condition which involves the 24/7 confrontation of bodily functions and fluids to a similar extent. Addressing big issues (education? special needs?) and small (latex or silicone? thumb or pacifier?), motherhood is a full body contact, multi-media interdisciplinary, cross-cultural-lollapalooza of a lifetime career. Upon which the future of civilization as we know it is wholly reliant.

Read the rest on Your Wo(Man) in Washington.

[Thanks to  Flickr & Matti Mattila for the dome pic]

Comments

[Andrea P]

Love this!! Would like to hear more... :)