To say I was livid is an understatement when I first read that Democratic pundit Hilary Rosen had stated, that as a stay at home mom, Ann Romney had not actually worked for a living.
While I furiously read the article in the Washington Post, ready to to go after Hilary Rosen, what I realized was this is an age old source of contention between women that I have personally experienced.
While Hilary Rosen clarified her statement:
On Twitter, Rosen did not apologize, but wrote several tweets trying to explain her comments, saying her point was that Mitt Romney should stop saying on the campaign trail that Ann is his guide to the economic problems facing women because “she doesn’t have any.”
Rosen tweeted at Ann Romney, saying: “I am raising children too. But most young American women HAVE to BOTH earn a living AND raise children. You know that don’t u?” Later, Rosen tweeted again at Romney: “Please know, I admire you. But your husband shouldn’t say you are his expert on women and the economy.”
As a stay at home mom, I have felt this defensiveness by moms who stay at home and moms who work. Each explaining why their “choice” is best. But for many families, there is no choice, both parents must work. However, I know mom’s who choose to work, they don’t want to be at home.
Here are some questions that I know exist. What role model is a stay at home mom to her daughter? Do we “lease” our children out to be raised by strangers? I invite others to put up their own questions for debate.
Here is what I do know, women on women offense when it comes to work choices is a distraction from core issues in this country. I know that I often feel as a stay at home mom, I feel like I am always explaining my “worth”.
