Sure, they're "independent"... of family. "Independent" of a husband. "Free" from the responsibility of child raising and from being the "helper" for their husband.
But they're just all that much more dependent on the corporation or the government. They're the "helper" for some strange man that probably DOES have a family.
They're in the same role, only that role has been perverted and corrupted.
``STUDENTS, faculty and guests of Wellesley College, welcome. As you know, Barbara Bush was supposed to be our commencement speaker. But at the last minute, she was asked to baby-sit for some of her grandchildren. Because she considers that to be a more fulfilling task, she has asked to be excused.
``In her absence, we have invited Chicago columnist Mike Royko to address you. Unlike Mrs. Bush, Mr. Royko has never been a housewife or mother. And he has a working career. So except for not being a female person, he fulfills the requirements of the 150 student feminists who signed petitions objecting to Mrs. Bush's presence. So I introduce Mr. Royko.''
``Thank you, Chancellor Whatsis, Dean Whoozits, and all the rest of you rich, Eastern elitists who have gathered at this citadel of snobbery.
``First, I would ask that nobody boo, jeer, or otherwise protest my presence, as I have a nervous stomach and that will make me throw up, which, in turn, will make you nauseous, causing some of you to retch, faint, or stampede toward the exits, thereby detracting from the solemnity of this occasion.
``Now for my commencement address. I will begin by saying that I know what you think I'm going to say. You think I'm going to give you the old `get out there and help make this a better world' routine, which is standard for commencement speeches.
``You expect me to tell you to think not only of yourself, but to do something with your lives that will help mankind - excuse me, I meant personkind. And that you should think of the downtrodden of society, the have-nots, and all the social ills that afflict our nation and the world.
``OK, if you want to be do-gooders, that's fine, as long as you don't get obnoxious about it. But chances are you won't, because you are more concerned with your own happiness than some stranger's, so we'll leave it at that.
``Instead, I would like to talk about the crummy way some of you treated Mrs. Bush, crabbing that she wasn't a worthy choice to speak here because she dropped out of college, got married, and was never anything but a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker.
``Actually, I'm glad you did that, because it touched off a national debate and gave a lot of pundits a chance to get their minds off Lithuania and ponder your silliness.
``So I'd like to ask you a question. Those of you who have ever gone through 9 months of pregnancy and 12 hours of labor, raise your hands.
``That's what I thought.
``Now, those of you who have ever hauled yourself out of bed at midnight to change the diaper - non-disposable and with pins - and handle the late feeding of a baby, raise your hands.
``That's what I thought. Probably never made formula, either, right? Or boiled any nipples? Or had a boy baby wee in your eyes?
``OK, now I want to see a show of hands from any of you who have been up at 5 a.m., when the baby starts crying for a bottle, and stayed up all day taking care of the kid while getting the older kids off to school, then making dinner for the whole family, and finally collapsing into bed at 11 p.m.
``Uh-huh, as I suspected.
``Young female creatures, I don't think any of you know what work really is. You think a working career is tough? Let me tell you about working careers. In most of them, when 5 or 5:30 p.m. rolls around, you lock your desk, turn off the office light, and go over to Harry's Place for a drink.
``But at 5 or 5:30 p.m., a young Barbara Bush, or a young Wanda Kowalski, isn't turning off the office light and ordering a white wine.
``She's probably sitting there with a kid going through the terrible twos, and the kid is saying: `Why sun go down, Mama?' So she explains. And the kid says, `Why?' And she explains some more. And the kid says, `Why?' Ten more times the kid says, `Why?' Before she's done, she's into the meaning of the universe, and the kid is still asking, `Why?'
``Meanwhile, a pot is boiling over, two of the older kids are fighting over which channel to watch, and the dog is barking to go out before he ruins the rug.
``Or it's noon. You, in your real-world career, are going out for a power lunch. What's young Barbara, or Wanda, doing? She's just grabbed a load out of the washer and dumped it into the dryer, and is making a mad dash for the nursery school. Or maybe the pediatrician, because one of the kids has red spots all over the face and a 102 temperature.
``By the way, how many of you are adroit in the use of a rectal thermometer at 3 a.m.? Please hold up your hands. Uh-huh.
``This is an unfair question, I know, because of your ages. But have any of you taken a totally helpless infant and guided it through those important early developmental years, reading to it, playing educational games with it, then getting it through one grade after another of school, making sure it does homework, trying to teach right from wrong, providing decent, humane values, until finally one day you have before you a fully grown, mentally developed, useful, intelligent and likable human being - your very own creation?
``Do you realize how much mind-boggling, back-breaking, nerve-frazzling, self-depriving, 16-hour days of work this takes, if you are going to do it right? And you don't consider that a career?
``A final question: How many of you consider yourselves able to hit a good tennis backhand?
``Fine. I knew you had accomplished something.
``Well, in conclusion, I can only say: The back of my hand to you, too.''