In the frenetic whirlwind of modern life, there’s a certain expectation that women should be able to do it all: climb the corporate ladder, raise a family, and somehow manage to do it all with a smile. Unfortunately, the age-old problem with feminism—especially as it was touted in its more radical strands—wrestles with this very concept. It never quite found a way to incorporate motherhood into its grand vision of women’s liberation. Poor Gloria Steinem, champion of many feminist causes, couldn’t quite wrap her head around it either. Without experiencing motherhood firsthand, she didn’t fully address how women could juggle the demands of a career and a family.
It’s almost reminiscent of those traditional gender roles that have served societies for thousands of years. Shockingly, they weren’t all conjured up to keep people in the kitchen. These roles evolved naturally over time, and just because the modern world decided to turn things on its head doesn’t mean we should ignore what’s worked for centuries. There’s a good reason why those traditional roles emerged, after all. But now, it’s often the case that anyone clinging to even a thread of these time-tested patterns is looked down upon. The accusation? Not being progressive enough.
In this era, some women who stepped boldly into the workforce, believing it to be the pinnacle of achievement, are having second thoughts. The bright lights and hustle of city life, particularly places like New York, magnify this awareness. Suddenly, there’s a realization that they might have been shortchanged in the process. With an impressive title under their belts but lacking the warmth of a family to come home to, there’s an unspoken realization: something has been missing.
Critics say there’s a subtle envy at play. Many women who leapt wholeheartedly into their careers are now peering over the proverbial fence, eyeing their friends—who are knee-deep in finger paints and school lunches—with a touch of jealousy. While they may have the financial freedom their foremothers dreamed of, there’s a nagging doubt, a suspicion that they traded the richness of family life for fleeting accolades at work. The VP positions they toiled for may bring prestige, but they don’t come with bedtime stories and soccer games.
Perhaps it’s not about being manipulated into career paths under the guise of empowerment. Instead, it’s about feeling misled, believing they were given the ultimate choice, but one without all the information. Many of these career-focused women have given a nod of understanding to their “less ambitious” counterparts, realizing that the grass isn’t always greener. In this grand game of life, being a mother, a homemaker, or simply having that choice respected might just be the twist in the plot that these women wish they had understood sooner.
