Stay At Home Moms Devalued

[Mudcat]

Rosen's comments were an intended pejorative for certain.

I haven't seen anyone pickup on the notion that not only did she disenfranchise families that have chosen for the wife to stay at home to raise children, manage the household and so forth.

That she has also disenfranchised single mothers who depend on welfare and other govt. support.

Two edges to that.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Rosen's comments were an intended pejorative for certain.

I haven't seen anyone pickup on the notion that not only did she disenfranchise families that have chosen for the wife to stay at home to raise children, manage the household and so forth.

That she has also disenfranchised single mothers who depend on welfare and other govt. support.

Two edges to that.

I remember a great quote from “Terms of Endearment”. “As hard is it is to raise children, you end up wishing it was that easy”. All mother’s work…at no greater work is done.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Well said, Bluebell. I am old enough to remember the "good old days". Things were very messed up and in need of serious change, not just for women, but for a lot of severely discriminated against groups. We are not there yet, but still working on it.

I don’t know, I think the pendulum has further to the other side.

[thesometimesaint]

Pa Pa:

While getting better. Women still earn less than men. Skin color still matters. Religions are still mocked publicly. Certain sexual orientations can still be legally discriminated against. We still have many miles to go before we sleep.

[Zakuska]

Libs, I see you are a good hearted person and want to give others the benefit of the doubt that they are underneath as kind and thoughtful as you are. In general, I try hard to do the same.

But I think in this case you are giving a bit too much of a benefit. People do tend to mean what they say in the heat of the moment, they also can feel the complete opposite as well as we can possess feelings and beliefs on many different levels that are not always consistent, at least in appearance to outsiders. I agree she likely didn't mean to attack SAHMs, but I think she said exactly what she meant because it was a personal attack on Ann Romney.

It is very sad that more fires are being set because honestly it is so easy to do so and so much harder to put them out once started such that I see little hope for working together. If something like what happened on 9/11 only managed to do it for a few days, what would it take to wake enough people up to face the reality and to put aside their own biases long enough for long term, effective change to actually occur?

In the context of this campaign, I beleive it wasn't ment so much as a swipe at SAHMs as it was a swipe at the Romney's wealth. The "average american" (what ever that is supposed to be) sees them as silver spooners and the Obama campaign is using this to try and drive a wedge between them and the "average american".

Which is ironic beings how the Obamas aren't that poor either. Both harvard Graduates, Their tax returns from 2006 show they brought in nearly a million dollars between the 2 of them. Wouldn't that put them in the 1% as well?

Please excuse the WikiLink:

"According to the couple’s 2006 income tax return, her salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband had a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate. The Obamas' total income, however, was $991,296, which included $51,200 she earned as a member of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods, and investments and royalties from his books.^[51]"

^{http://en.wikipedia..../Michelle_Obama}

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Pa Pa:

Skin color still matters.

Too who?

[thesometimesaint]

http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/video/player/latest-videos/skin-deep-sneak-peek/1440011692001/

[thesometimesaint]

Zakuska:

Obama was born poor, lived most of his early years poor, and through smarts, grit, and determination became President of the US. No small feat. Communty organizers just don't make a whole lot of money. It wasn't until he entered politics that his income rose by any significant amount.

Adam Smith believed in progressive taxation. IIRC he even wrote a book about it called "The Wealth of Nations". Interesting read. Obama seems to also believe in the "Buffet Rule" or as LDS would put it to whom much is given much is expected.

[Garden Girl]

Everyone talks like the Romneys were always wealthy... that is not true... they chose to live on their own as newly marrieds, in a small, relatively inexpensive basement apartment... yes they had the safety net of Mitt's wealthy parents... but even his parents didn't start out wealthy. His dad worked regular jobs, even selling paint out of the trunk of his car. I don't even think the senior Romney graduated from college, but could be wrong. But through hard work worked his way up until he became CEO(?) of American Motors.

I'm sure the Mitt Romney's choices in their early marriage gave them ample experience in what it was like to struggle together to build their lives. They can remember and relate to those days.

Then of course, I think of the days when Romney was a bishop... and we all know the load that falls on the shoulders of the bishop in dealing with various families' needs, etc. To think he is out of touch with "real" people and their struggles is laughable. Actually, IMO, he is an example of the American dream, where study and hard work can provide a pathway to success if one is willing to work hard enough. (IIRC he gave away all or most of his inheritance from his father).

No, I think Rosen's comments were actually what she and others like her think... an underlying attitude that unless a woman pursues a career or simply "works" outside the home, she doesn't have a "real" job. This, I believe, is what prompted her remarks and her attitude against Anne Romney and other stay-at-home mothers.

GG

[thesometimesaint]

GG:

Mitt was born with a Gold plated Latinum spoon in his mouth. His father George Romney was the president of American Motors Corp. for heaven sakes, and left Mitt with over $100 Million.

Just like Mitt lived in his sons unfinished basement.

The point is that while Ann is probably a very nice person she never HAD to work outside her home just to put food on the table, and a roof over her familys head. She has lead a very priviledged life, and good her her. I wish everyone could. but she has no clue as how to live as a poor or middle class woman.

[bluebell]

GG:

Mitt was born with a Gold plated Latinum spoon in his mouth. His father George Romney was the president of American Motors Corp. for heaven sakes, and left Mitt with over $100 Million.

Just like Mitt lived in his sons unfinished basement.

The point is that while Ann is probably a very nice person she never HAD to work outside her home just to put food on the table, and a roof over her familys head. She has lead a very priviledged life, and good her her. I wish everyone could. but she has no clue as how to live as a poor or middle class woman.

That's probably true of Ann, but equally true is that a middle class woman has no idea how to live as a poor woman. Unless we've lived it, we can't really know, but that doesn't mean we are worthless to impact people who live different lives than we do.

[Zakuska]

That's probably true of Ann, but equally true is that a middle class woman has no idea how to live as a poor woman. Unless we've lived it, we can't really know, but that doesn't mean we are worthless to impact people who live different lives than we do.

Nor is it grounds to not being fit to speak about Womens economic issues. Which is what Rosen asked for.

"When a Democratic strategist said stay-at-home mom Ann Romney shouldn't advise her husband about women's economic issues..."

It's not a matter of Mitt or Anne not being able to connect or relate to the poor and economically challenged. In Romneys stump speaches, he wasn't claiming to being able to relate to economically challenged women, he was merely reporting what his Wife (and the media for that matter) had been reporting was the main conscern of women they were speaking with in thier tour around the country.

[KevinG]

You know you have put your foot in your mouth (twitter feed) when you are left trying to defend misogyny by claiming it was only meant to be class envy.

[Log]

An excellent point, and one that I hope gets repeated.

[KevinG]

We've had kids and money and kids and no money. The only difference when it comes to parenting are that with money you have to say no more often without having a situation to blame it on.

So what if Ann Romney started out with more talents? - she still multiplied them and from all external indications she did a pretty good job.

[Garden Girl]

GG:

The point is that while Ann is probably a very nice person she never HAD to work outside her home just to put food on the table, and a roof over her familys head. She has lead a very priviledged life, and good her her. I wish everyone could. but she has no clue as how to live as a poor or middle class woman.

Hello TSS! It's that time again, and we seem to still be poles apart when it comes to these discussions... but not spiritually thank goodness.

Even though Mitt gave away his inheritance, I'm sure they never struggled in the same way my own single mom had to when my dad ran off and left her to raise two little girls on her own in an era that looked askance at a divorced woman ('40s). It wasn't until years later that I realized just how poor we were because my mom took such good care of us while cleaning other women's homes. She made the best lima beans and ham, and cornbread from scratch... it was delicious! And her chili beans were wonderful...

No, she struggled in ways that Anne and others like her probably never had to, but that doesn't mean that Anne doesn't have a clue as to how my mom and others like her struggle or live. In my own experience in RS presidency visiting needy sisters, I may not have to face the same struggles but that doesn't make me clueless as to their despair or needs.

Hope all is well with you... (I still struggle somewhat as I've been retired 21 years on a fixed income that this economy is affecting. You can imagine how increased food costs and $4.19/gal gasoline affect me. There's no exotic vacations, shopping trips, etc. At age 71, all my funds have to be saved in case I need to go into assisted living in a few years, and we all know what that costs per year. Actually, this is my biggest concern, i.e., I'm totally alone, no children, what type of assistance or home will I be able to afford ). Oh well... sigh

GG

[Okrahomer]

...but that doesn't mean that Anne doesn't have a clue as to how my mom and others like her struggle or live. In my own experience in RS presidency visiting needy sisters, I may not have to face the same struggles but that doesn't make me clueless as to their despair or needs.

Amen.

[Bob Oliverio]

Bob:

TTBOMK. No spouce of a sitting President has ever been his running mate. Close intimate counselor yes, but no official role as VP.

Are you sure about that?  I could have sworn the Hillary Clinton was VP during the Clinton years.  You may want to check your history again.

[Daniel Peterson]

For whatever it's worth, I've posted a few comments on this issue over at my blog, and will probably do at least one more:

http://dcpsicetnon.blogspot.com/

[Zakuska]

And the attack continues - This time by Democratic Representative Scott Randolph of Florida.

Ann Romney Comes Under Attack By House Dem

Rep. Scott Randolph (D-Fla.): Ann Romney is Not a Real Stay-at-Home Mom

Democratic Rep. Scott Randolph attacked Ann Romney in a series of tweets yesterday. Specifically attacking her as a stay-at-home mother.

Tweets:

How many house servants did "stay-at-home-mom" Ann Romney have to raise her kids. Just b/c u don't have job doesn't make u stay-at-home mom.

Wish my spouse had hundreds of millions in off shore accts gained by firing American workers so I could be "stay-at-home-dad".

Romney should release all his tax returns so that we can see how many nannies "stay at home mom" Ann had. Release ur taxes!!

Totally false that Ann Romney didn't have job--all those nannies, gardeners, cooks, drivers, in all those houses--If Mitt let her have say

http://nation.foxnew...ttack-house-dem

If there ever was any doubt how the liberal left views the Conservative right.

[Peppermint Patty]

Any woman who's raised five boys is worth at least 20 professional women in the workplace minimum.

BC,

As a professional woman who is also a mother of three, I would obviously disagree with your comment. I know that you did not intend any offense, but many professional LDS women would probably be offended.

I think it's important not to denigrate professional women or women that choose to be stay at home mothers. I have seen this over and over where stay at home mothers look down on professional women and vice versa. It needs to stop. Nobody is superior.

Women of all stripes have it tough these days. More women than men are getting their college education, entering the workforce and raising families. We all need more understanding.

[thesometimesaint]

bluebell:

Ann was never middle class.

[thesometimesaint]

Bob:

Al Gore would be very surprized at your assurtion.

[Zakuska]

Women of all stripes have it tough these days. More women than men are getting their college education, entering the workforce and raising families. We all need more understanding.

...And along with the Illegal Aliens are stealing the Jobs of white-anglo-americans all across the nation in an already tough economy.

(Total Tongue in Cheek. )

[blackstrap]

Whenever I hear that some women in the USA have it tough ,I draw a comparison with the women of Somalia or Biafra or Sudan or any number of other he!! holes in this world where children and mothers die slowly from starvation or violently from war. Similarly the middle class or even lower class males in the USA need to consider the men who work in the mines of Chile or South Africa or Siberia,and thank whatever gods they have that they do not know what 'tough' is.Certainly every man and woman has struggles in this world,but from what I see,the vast majority of those living in the well developed lands are 'clueless' about how tough it is for the vast majority in the dsytopian rest of the world.