Two Extremes of the Opt-Out Revolution
Two Extremes Of The Opt-Out Revolution
What opting out means for women in the US
Women in the Economy - Research Paper
Two Extremes Of The Opt-Out Revolution
Econ 183 – Women in the Economy - Research Paper
Introduction: In October of 2003, Lisa Belkin of the New York Times wrote an article, titled “The Opt-Out Revolution,” and coined the word “opting-out”. The article is about the counter-feminist phenomenon of “high-powered, prestigiously educated women who have decided to ‘opt out’ of work in favor of pursing motherhood full time” (Belkin 2003). In her research on several individual cases of these opt-out women, Belkin argues that given the choice between work and raising a family, many mothers are defining success not on the accumulation of power and money but on the attainment of balance and sanity. Belkin (2003) is quick to say that this is not true for all women by issuing the following disclaimer: There are ambitious women out there who are the emotional and professional equals of any man, and that there are women who stayed the course… I also say this knowing that to suggest that women work differently than men -- that they leave more easily and find other parts of life more fulfilling -- is a dangerous and loaded statement.
However, despite this disclaimer, the obvious generalizations and self-righteous implications of the opt-out revolution, trends that are pulling more and more women into the post-feminist mommy-track, has caused a fervor of debate amongst journalists and feminists alike. Belkin’s article was followed by many more writers who were quick to capitalize on this new sensational news story of mothers who gave up careers for their children. These neo-traditionalists held a banner of self-righteousness to the world and shaped the way in which a lot of women entering the workforce were perceived. However, these women were also a very small part of the true argument against and for the opt-out revolution. On the
What opting out means for women in the US
Women in the Economy - Research Paper
Two Extremes Of The Opt-Out Revolution
Econ 183 – Women in the Economy - Research Paper
Introduction: In October of 2003, Lisa Belkin of the New York Times wrote an article, titled “The Opt-Out Revolution,” and coined the word “opting-out”. The article is about the counter-feminist phenomenon of “high-powered, prestigiously educated women who have decided to ‘opt out’ of work in favor of pursing motherhood full time” (Belkin 2003). In her research on several individual cases of these opt-out women, Belkin argues that given the choice between work and raising a family, many mothers are defining success not on the accumulation of power and money but on the attainment of balance and sanity. Belkin (2003) is quick to say that this is not true for all women by issuing the following disclaimer: There are ambitious women out there who are the emotional and professional equals of any man, and that there are women who stayed the course… I also say this knowing that to suggest that women work differently than men -- that they leave more easily and find other parts of life more fulfilling -- is a dangerous and loaded statement.
However, despite this disclaimer, the obvious generalizations and self-righteous implications of the opt-out revolution, trends that are pulling more and more women into the post-feminist mommy-track, has caused a fervor of debate amongst journalists and feminists alike. Belkin’s article was followed by many more writers who were quick to capitalize on this new sensational news story of mothers who gave up careers for their children. These neo-traditionalists held a banner of self-righteousness to the world and shaped the way in which a lot of women entering the workforce were perceived. However, these women were also a very small part of the true argument against and for the opt-out revolution. On the
References: "A Guide to Womenomics". 2006. The Economist. Oct 26, 2003. <http://www.truthout.org/cgi- bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/59/19071>. Belkin, Lisa. 2003. "The Opt-Out Revolution." New York Times. Oct 26, 2003. <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E0DE113EF935A15753C1A9659 C8B63>. Gardner, Marilyn. 2006. "The Truth Behind Women 'Opting Out '." Christian Science Monitor. Oct 30, 2006. <http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1030/p13s02-wmgn.html>. Lowe, Graham S.. 1987. Women in the administrative revolution : the feminization of clerical work / by Graham S. Lowe. Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1987. Merrill-Sands, Deborah , Jill Kickul, and Cynthia Ingols. 2005. "CGO Insights No. 20: Women Pursuing Leadership and Power: Challenging the Myth of the Opt Out Revolution." Center for Gender in Organizations, School of Management, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts. February 2005. <http://www.simmons.edu/som/docs/centers/insights_20.pdf>. Mitchell, Juliet. 1984. Women, the longest revolution / Juliet Mitchell. New York : Pantheon Books, 1984. Rowbotham, Sheila. 1974. Women, resistance and revolution; a history of women and revolution in the modern world. New York: Vintage Books, 1974 Shapiro, Mary, Cynthia Ingols, and Stacy Blake-Beard. 2007. "CGO Insights No. 25: Optioning In versus "Opting Out": Women Using Flexible Work Arrangements for Career Success." Center for Gender in Organizations, School of Management, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts. February 2007. <http://www.simmons.edu/som/docs/centers/insights_25.pdf>. Williams, Joan C.. 2007. "The Opt-Out Revolution Revisited." The American Prospect. Feb 19, 2007. <http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_optout_revolution_revisited>.