Feminists? Any here?

[shootingstar]

There are ways to remain viable for employment and still not be in the workforce. I have gained many valuable skills as a stay-at-home mom that I might not have been given the opportunity to acquire if I had had a 9-to-5er for the last 15 years.

I just heard the other day that the unpaid work I do as a family manager is worth about $122,000 a year in today's economy.

Last week I went in on business to see an acquaintance who knows me from my volunteer work. I told her I was thinking about going into her field when I am free to do so in a few years. She handed me her card and said, "Come work for me!" She was serious. She knows how hard I work at my volunteer endeavors. She knows how hard it is to do what I do as a volunteer and still take care of my family.

I don't think the work I do at home is undervalued by the whole of society. I think certain segments of our society disdain it (feminists? eh, maybe. The word alone rankles me.) I also know there are certain segments of our society who hold it in high esteem (mostly religious communities). Fortunately, I don't get my self-worth from what some segments of society think of what I do. I get it from doing the right thing for me and my family.

Karen

I agree that's all sorts of unpaid work that can be transferrable for other types of jobs. Some jobs just won't allow it if the women stays out of her profession for several years without practicing it. It's not impossible, but she might have to take a sideways career change if she can't convince prospective employers of her choice.

I have several sisters --one is family physician. She will work for the rest of life..because she has a baby of 1 yrs. old. Her hubby is a cook and I believe can only work part-time. So that he looks after baby. Clearly in her profession she has to keep her foot in paid work as a physician. Doctor-sister actually can work part-time..because doctors get paid well and she saved money before she even met her hubby. Will she give up such working privileges? Hell no, besides, she has no choice. A drive 100 kms. 1 way to get to work at her hospital.

Another sister is a llcensed hospital pharmacist with 3 children under 11 yrs. old. She is involved on patient care teams, in clinical drug trials and is a preceptor for pharmacy university students. Her drug therapy knowledge must be kept active and and alive by practicing it. Yes, her children are in daycare..they stick to the same one for past 10 yrs.

And contrast to a 3rd sister, who was a licensed hospital pharmacist who decided to be a stay at home mom full time. (She did have her own yoga centre for 2 yrs. Long story behind this one but she was actually successful..but chose not to continue.) She couldn't do community/retail pharmacist work because of various ethical issues /situations that she saw. So she left the profession, which is not unusual in terms of just leaving something one doesn't believe in/can't change certain institutional /systemic things.