"Radical" Working Moms and Retrograde Rick Santorum

Work Wednesday

Forget everything positive I've penned (well, keyboarded) about being a working mom these last few years on CurrentMom. (Like this piece on "More Joy, Less Divorce" from a few years back.) Apparently, I've been brainwashed by a posse of radical feminist misogynists (oh my!) intent on destroying America as we know it into thinking that I'm entitled to have a career and kids.

This, at least, is what uber-conservative Republican presidential aspirant Rick Santorum thinks. (I'm not hyperlinking to his name for reasons that will be obvious to those of you who have ever "Googled" him.)

According to Santorum, "radical feminists have succeeded in undermining the traditional family and convincing women that professional accomplishments are the key to happiness." His evidence: “Many women have told me, and surveys have shown, that they find it easier, more ‘professionally’ gratifying, and certainly more socially affirming, to work outside the home than to give up their careers to take care of their children.”

This is a result, he's written, of “radical feminism’s misogynistic crusade to make working outside the home the only marker of social value and self-respect." Santorum believes that American families should just suck it up and get by on one salary rather than indulge the missus' self-centered desire to work: “For some parents, the purported need to provide things for their children simply provides a convenient rationalization for pursuing a gratifying career outside the home.” (You can find all this and more in Santorum's 2005 book, It Takes A Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, which has been getting new scrutiny as Santorum surges in Republican primary polls.)

It's probably just the mind control or some other sort of indoctrination but I have to disagree with Santorum's sanctimonies. Strongly.

First, and perhaps most obvious, is the fact that many American families simply cannot afford the basic necessities of life on one salary, such as housing, health insurance, and food, much less have something leftover for the kids' "extras" on one salary. Elizabeth Warren persuasively refuted the false argument embraced by Santorum and other conservatives that blames American families' "lust for stuff" as the reason for the rise of two-income families in this 2006 magazine piece. It's worth a read.

Second, economic realities aside, it's the 21st century, Rick! Many women - even after they've popped out a few kids - want to use their brains, talents, and education and training to make their mark in the larger world. By and large, after tremendous struggles, women now have opportunities that were foreclosed to them in earlier generations. Why is a women who chooses to take advantage of these opportunities and pursue her career - and raise a family - somehow selfish? Would Santorum - and his ilk - ever suggest that a man who wants to pursue a "gratifying career" outside the home is somehow undermining the fabric of society? No, of course.

Third, Santorum is simply wrong in his assumption that women who work outside the home are somehow abandoning their parenting responsibilities. Most working moms - and their partners and spouses - make a lot of adjustments, compromises, and decisions about their jobs, assignments, and work schedules based on their parental roles. In the interest of space, I won't belabor the point here, but as Janice D'Arcy pointed out in The Washington Post last week, "no one is turning their back on their kids to seek personal fulfillment. These women are feeling responsible for both." Even if Santorum has a point about the importance of prioritizing family life, there's nothing in his positions that give me any comfort that he would develop public policies that support working families. (Exhibit A, Santorum's views of public education.)

Finally, and perhaps it's the brainwashing befuddling my mind again, I find it somewhat suspect that Santorum is trying to dump this all on his wife now that his views are being challenged on the campaign trail.  Santorum recently said that his wife, a nurse and attorney who "gave up" her career to homeschool their seven kids, wrote those lines of the 2005 book because she felt her decision to become a stay-at-home mom wasn't valued by society. Really?  As Alec MacGillis revealed in The New Republic, Mrs. Santorum "has a lengthy work history, and it includes a job that raised a few eyebrows back in the 1990s—working for the media firm that did, and still does, the advertising for Rick Santorum’s campaigns."

When it comes down to it, there's nothing radical about moms working and pursuing their professional goals while parenting their kids.  The only radical thing here is Rick and his frankly scary, retrograde views of working women and families.

Photo of Paper Bag Rick Santorum by andessurvivor via flickr.com pursuant to a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

 

Comments

[Tashiana S.]

I love this article. It is so well written. When I heard Santorum say these things, I taught I heard wrong which is why I googled this and came across your page. I don't have any kids but I have so much respect for my mother and women who has kid and work. I believe that working women especially those who have kids are working out of necessity and not only because they want to. My mom told me she worked a part-time job making only $8.50 so I could join the track and swim team because most of my dad check went to other bills. I really hope Santorum or some of his aids sees your article and can get insight because his views are just out dated and wrong. I know it must be difficult for working women because working full time and going to school full time is hard and I couldn't image putting a child in the mix. Like I said I love this article and your page. Please keep writing and I will keep reading.

[Tricia]

Wow, I am impressed that a politician is willing to take such an unpopular view. Especially since 70% of mothers work, and no matter what the reasons, we all feel very strongly about it. Maybe his point of view will appeal to stay at home moms who don't feel valued by society. As for me, I think us working moms have a huge burden of unnecessary guilt dumped on us already, and the last thing we need is a public declaration that we are not worth supporting. :-(

[Orlando Divorce Attorney]

I believe that Rick Santorum is bad for marriage. I predict that if elected, divorce would increase by at-least 15%. When going through a divorce I have found that it is best to hire an aggressive attorney. Here in the Orlando, Florida area it is very competitive in regards to Family Law. Santorum is sure to bring business to the Central Florida, in the form of divorce legalities.

[Melody Bakeeff]

Rick Santorum is the misogynist! Honestly, I love my daughter and I'm glad I had her - but I have responsibilities to the "me" that will still be around (hopefully) long after she is no longer my direct responsibility. Women are not simply wombs walking around, dabbling in hobbies, waiting for the childbearing years to come along and 'make them whole'. That retrograde, religious-sponsored type thinking will do nothing to secure the place of many people in our current environment. If individuals indeed feel that way, so be it. But to know someone looking to be put in charge of public policy on the highest level feels this strongly about it? Well, let's just say sometimes I understand where the 'why bother voting' crowd gets it's opinions.