[MCCRon58]

(At grave risk of opening myself up for abuse, I have to ask the question that pops into mind);

Did you ever wonder what the wage scale would be for jobs in america, if we hadn't increased the size of the labor force by 80%, by forcing women into the workplace?

[jtal]

It's a matter of simple economics. Unfortunately few people understand simple economics and fall back on political or emotional responses. But of course you're correct, economically.

[yellowdoghunter]

Did you ever wonder what the wage scale would be for jobs in america, if we hadn't increased the size of the labor force by 80%, by forcing women into the workplace?

I would assume the wage scale would be better, meaning better pay. Or am I reading what you wrote wrong? Also, this is another great point for my research paper. Thanks!

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

OOOooooo I see this heading down hill QUICK!!!!

What I miss most is not being at home to greet my kid. Still with both me and my wife working we may actually be able to send him to the college he wants to attend. With luck we won't be broke by the end of it. I do miss my mom's chicken paprikash (sp?). I still have not gotten it right and the dumplings... just cant get them the same way.... and yes I cook and cook well.

[Roos_Girl]

I wonder that myself. I'm in my early 30's and absolutely hate the "women's movement" for basically making me have to work. We don't have children yet, but I don't think either of us feel like we can afford them and time's starting to get short. We might be able to get by, by the skin of our teeth, on just my husband's salary, but it would be very uncomfortable, and definitely there would be no savings to keep us afloat in case of hard times ahead.

I have been considering asking about a telecommute a couple days per week, but it may be difficult to talk the boss into.

[YankeeGirl]

Don't remember being "forced" into the workforce. Been working since I was 15; I wanted money to buy my own clothes and records. Mom & Dad didn't have much disposable income.

Worked through college too, had a sister one year behind me. I felt guilty asking my folks for beer and clothing money while they struggled with tuition. But I wasn't forced to work.

Worked after college because I enjoyed having my own place and my own money. Was the grown-up thing to do.

Never thought of stopping just because I got married. I was in a great field (early information technology) with interesting work in a great environment (a college) a few blocks from home.

Took 4 month maternity leave after my first baby. Found a great baby sitter who watched her and later her sister & brother for 10 years at my home when I went back. Was home for lunch (even nursed each for a few months), at school functions, and home less than an hour after the kids.

I would have gone NUTS being a stay-at-home mom. House might have been cleaner and weekends less chore-filled, but I would have been ready to shoot myself. I enjoy adult conversation and discussions, and hated most kids tv. I'm not one to watch the same movies over and over. And my husband was even worse; totally frazzled after a couple of days home alone with the kids when they were little.

I have plenty of stay-at-home mom friends. By the time the kids were 4 they were in preschool for a few hours a day and mom was stuck with not enough time to work or start home projects before pick-up time. I'm not judging whether one route was better than the other, but the benefit for me was that I always had a good income coming in and was able to keep up with the advances in the field.

If I had to do it again, I might have worked part-time for a couple of those years. But I was lucky I had a great employer and now enough years of service for all my kids to go to a private, catholic college for free. (Okay, the first one is at a private EXPENSIVE college not on my tuition exchange plan, but I have hope for the other two!)

I don't believe women are "forced" into the workforce any more than men are.

[MissEdie]

With regards to your tag line, because of those of us who "can't", those of you who do, CAN.

[Cindy_Cin]

My husband says that all the time & heres a shock, I agree.

[AppyPappy]

Women weren't forced. They chose to join the market place.

[Alberta's Child]

I think part of the problem was that in post-WW2 era we deluded ourselves into thinking that it was normal -- and sustainable over the long term -- for people to live an affluent suburban lifestyle miles and miles away from where they work.

That kind of model simply isn't going to hold up over time, and people are spending more and more time traveling to and from work than ever before.