Like so many other things in the previous year, my…
““Like so many other things in the previous year, my politics had also been retooled by maternity. I began to suspect that modern feminism had gotten it at least partly wrong. . . . In devaluing the home and the vast range of domestic work--childrearing included--and in fighting a fight largely for the right to work outside the home, the modern feminist movement ignored a singular power already available to women and, maybe more important, to the collective imagination. Rather than fighting to re-invent the home, or to effect a real transformation of values, or to legitimize and legalize the domestic and childrearing work that so many women engage in--which is necessary to support any mother's work outside the home--we have found it easier to map power where it already existed. Is this really my only choice? Between the intense demands of an academic career (supported by full-time childcare) and the mind-deadening contemplation of Cheerios?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern feminism often overlooks the power of domestic labor, limiting its transformative potential.
In simple terms: Feminism neglects home work.
Key Takeaway
Revalue domestic contributions.
Themes
feminism
gender
domestic labor
politics
social change
Mood
critical
empowering
analytical
Type
Feminism:1
Feminist movement:1
Parenting:0
Politics:1
Modern Feminism:1
Modern Feminist:1
Feminism Gotten:0
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- educational curricula
- community dialogues
Key Concepts
labor economics
cultural norms
intersectionality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can domestic work be politicized?
- What benefits arise from recognizing home labor?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched gender roles is difficult.