It was pretty mild as far as political blunders go. After having read the entire transcript, I thought the statement was awkward, but not offensive. Of course, had I been Ann Romney, I may feel differently.
Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen took a big swat at Ann Romney. Despite Ann's well-bankrolled lifestyle, she has five sons. So unless she had a battalion of nannies and staff, the woman must have worked very hard being a mom.
There is no doubt that Rosen was wrong and stuck her foot in her mouth when she said Romney never worked a day in her life. The next sentences of Rosen's statement softened the blow.
Rosen was making the point that Romney hasn't ever had an employer, she has never had to fight for wage equality, she has never had to worry about feeding her kids. In those regards, Romney does not represent the typical woman in the workplace.
Tuesday was Equal Pay Day. Rosen's right: the Romneys don't get it.
According to the National Women's Law Center, white women are earning a mere 77 cents to the white male's dollar. Our Latina sisters are getting hit the hardest with a pathetic 54 cents, and African-American women are at 62 cents.
When you clear away all the mudslinging, finger pointing and backlash, the facts are the same. Women are still taking it on the knuckles when it comes to trying to put food on our tables.
Having been a career woman turned stay-at-home mom, I moved my desk from the 44th floor to my kitchen table. Unlike either Rosen or Romney, I am in a great position to weigh in on this issue.
Motherhood is by far the hardest work. It is also the most rewarding. Rosen, yes, you need a time out for your statement. And Romney, you just settle your britches down, too. Your error was just as bad. You should have turned the spotlight where it needs to be: on the women who are working just as hard as The Man and earning only two-thirds.
Instead of all the childlike fighting at recess, we need to put on our big-girl pantyhose and keep our eyes on the ball. Or in this case, maybe it's not a ball. We need to keep our eyes on the doll.
I am sure that the SAH mom that is helping you babysitting your kid appreciates you insulting her by calling her clueless.
There's even the concept in Spanish/Latin American culture of "machismo," where the man is superior to everything, and that is used to force a woman to stay at home, not earn extra (or needed) money, not learn English, etc. I work outside the home because I HAVE to. My husband would love for me to stay at home full time, but he realizes that without my income, we may end up being homeless. I find interesting the Filipino concept: women are encouraged to go to school and work outside the home. But their income is not seen as their own- it is a supplement to their husband's or their parents' income. Family is EVERYTHING to the Filipinos, and they are taught early on how not to think about themselves, but about their families first (Something Americans DESPERATELY need to learn!). So, if a woman wants to work out side the home, that's her business. If a woman wants to stay-at-home, that's her business, too. But either way, IT HAS TO BE HER OWN DECISION AND NOT BY FORCE FROM ANOTHER!
I did learn to make meals that yielded leftovers which became a "cold plate" along with fruit for Sundays. Dad's day off...kinda. Moms, working or not let me tell you this; I am "one cowboy" that appreciates and understands the demands and sacrafices Moms make in keeping the home. We should never look for anymore in a womans "job description" past the word MOM!