Unique contributions to society
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| Thu, 10-19-2006 - 4:12pm |
In another thread, the "unique" contributions of SAHM's were alluded to but it wasn't stated what they are. Let's play a game and find out what they are. First, pretend that as of tomorrow, all moms SAH and detail what will be missing from society then pretend that all moms go to work and detail what will be missing from society. I'm really curious as to what people think a world without SAHM's orWOHM's would look like.
If all the moms who SAH went to work then the library would move story hour to the evening and summer vacation bible school would be held in the evenings so that all kids can attend and not just the kids of SAHM's. Banks would likely shift their hours to later in the day and you'd see more 24 hour stores. I think there would be more home cooking style restaurants too. I think day care centers would improve because of increased demand.
If all moms who WOH suddenly SAH, you'd see fewer service industries around because moms could do things themselves instead of paying for them. The nursing shortage would be more of a shortage. We'd probably have a shortage of teachers too. There'd be fewer government services because there'd be less tax dollars to pay for them. I can't think of anything else right now.

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And not everyone who works pays taxes LOL!
Great post BTW!
So a *woman* thinking a *woman* does not deserve respect because she does not work is *better* than a *man* thinking a *woman* does not reserve respect.
It's no different, the situation is the same, it's just a different person laying down the guilt trip. I do not see that as progress from the 50s
Sure, I've heard of it. I think it occurs pretty regularly in books that Oprah recommends (or used to recommend.)
Seriously, I don't tend to be friends with people who believe that the more money you make, the more important your opinion is, on the interpersonal level. Maybe we are just talking about people who live in a completely different world, yours being far more competitive, materialistic, and power-hungry. Can you see how if you don't live in that world, you might not always understand the ubiquitousness of some of the allegedly ordinary power struggles to which you're bringing our attention?
My dh had to force me to buy a new minivan. I can't relate to your SAH friend and her relationship.
Sabina
Sabina
Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
I've suggested this before to kbmammm, and she has never responded. All I can guess based on her other posts is that she believes that since most childcare providers make less money than she does, they are a less valuable member of society than she, but since they make more money than SAHM's, they are more valuable than SAHM's--although they have similar jobs, and in fact, most do less than SAHM's, since SAHM's do all that dcp's do and then some.
The contention will always be though that WOHM's can do everything SAHM's do PLUS bring home a pay check. Any individual who truly believes that puts child care as a very low priority, because that statement suggests that the 8 hours spent providing childcare is less important somehow than doing _________.
Hopefully she will answer your post though so we don't just have to guess what her opinion is of child care providers.
Edited 10/24/2006 2:03 pm ET by jungle_girl
Fair enough.
No. . . seriously? Did she not know what kind of guy this was before she married him and had kids?
Sounds like some serious therapy and some life changes were in order, since it's obvious he didn't consider her SAH was an equal contribution to the relationship--and thus would be a constant source of contention.
Which is why the debate really comes down to personal choice... I know that staying at home isn't for everyone, there are many moms on her who have said that it wasn't for them, and i have no problem. Better that the parents are happy in their choices than make themselves and their family unhappy.
Having some people say that anyone who does stay home is worthless to society and doesn't contribute anything is frustrating however. I might not have done anything for *society* while i was at home, but I did do things for *my* family, and for *me*. I had tons of fun being home, not having to worry about deadlines etc for a short time.
(oh and wasn't there a comparison of a stay at home mom to a doctor who saves lives??? Geez! @@)
But if everyone would just admit that then the conversations on this board would for the most part come to a screeching halt. . . well, except perhaps for the sideline conversations about wire shelves and "median homes."
People who don't have good accountants.
PumpkinAngel
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