… and then there is the revolting mirror scenario.

Ms Perfect breeds 3 children (one of them I’m not even sure is mine), gets taken care of for a good few years while her poor husband with a young family works his arse off, but none of it counts because he doesn’t do enough housework, or doesn’t earn enough money, or he’s not home long enough (you name it). Since the kids are now at school, Ms Perfect decides to kick start her career while still young. The problem is, her money is her money only, and there are some randy young dudes out there trying to impress her, and so she figures, well, I want more, I want it all …

So for the past few years, her ex on high income and high taxes, runs two households, educates all his children while having two of them in residence himself, struggles to keep it all together, has no idea what fatherhood means any more, or whether any of his children really appreciate him, is worried sick about what all this means for his son (the only one that possibly appreciates it all), and now has reduced to this – offers gender politics commentary on OLO (and still no-one listens ;-)

Ms Perfect still does very little, but at the same time considers herself both a victim, and better then most. Go figure …

My commiserations. If there had been no children . . . . .
Ms J Gillard is sensible clever and correct. Breeding is the cause of the angst. Travel light, move fast.

'Having provided this country with 3 taxpaying citizens, it has now thrown me on the scrap...'

Yep, breeding more cogs for the machine entitles you to something.

Scenario three (for Brownie and Seeker) .. later generation couple, lived out the home-maker/bread-winner partnership for the better part of 35 years, children all grown up, homemaker decides to go back to work and breadwinner decides to retire. The values of their generation meant that was just what you did. Homemaker finds starting out in modern workforce ruthless, age-ist and exhausting at her late age and wishes she'd learnt these lessons when she was younger and had the energy. Breadwinner finds tinkering around the house demoralising, un-fulfilling and totally alien and wishes he'd learnt more home-skills when he knew how to change. Both complain separately to now-adult daughter about how miserable and confused they are and how screwed up they believe such rigid societal roles to be. Both encourage daughter to settle only for nice, interesting man (or woman, they're quite 'hip' you know) who will equally share work, child and home duties. Daughter has to point out that in her experience, these men don't seem to exist.

Seeker, people are listening. Exchange phone numbers with Brownie.

Audrey,
Looking at the latest survey results from the nationwide HILDA survey and others, the most common scenario is :- Woman expects man to be the breadwinner. Woman believes home and children are an extension of herself, and seeks them as a type of "power base".

However looking at certain publications which are being churned out, then they describe it as you have described, which is basically “women good (but victimised by men) - men bad (and oppress women)"

Still waiting for you to give just one possible solution to just one of the many problems involving IVF.

Audrey, interesting that your scenario three daughter believes “these men don't seem to exist”. Their mother may have to put into practice that ‘hipness’ you mention she possesses ;-)

Sharing my address on OLO? Don’t think so. Ms Perfect was more than enough for one lifetime. THE HOMEWRECKER could probably take lessons ;-)

Timkins, some things about you remind me of Ms Perfect. She would never give an inch, even if that meant losing a mile. You are of course right in your last post, but whom would you expect to argue with that?

Yes, there are problems with IVF. For starters, taxpayers should not pay for it. But it is also a solution of last resort I would think, and perhaps its clients quickly become aware of all its shortcomings. How do you feel about transparency of donors? Surely that is a good idea. And how about DNA certification of both parents on the birth certificate? Now let’s talk about Family Court and Child Support ;-)