Thanks Brian, now we know about your mother, but the real question is how does your wife or partner feel about this subject?
She was there when it was happening.
She would be able to tell us the differences it made to her life.
I hope her retirement is as happy and carefree as yours.

Of course women's lib was necessary, and of course the situation of different laws for boys and girls was (and occasionally, still is) ridiculous and wrong.
Having said that, I think the author has made some valid points -at least economically. The most important one being the undeniable fact that 2 income families have driven up the price of real estate to the point where you have to have a 2 income family.
I know a few highly educated women who love their jobs and their lifestyles. But for every one of these, I'd guess there are 3 or 5 or more women working dead end jobs, just because they have to. Child care centres are the biggest growth industry in this country, and I for one think that is not just sad, it's bloody wrong.
I have met just one woman who actually preferred working, to staying home with her child; which to my mind begs the question, why have a child?
I know that sounds terribly sexist, but a 1 income family doesn't necessitate a male bread winner.
I bought a farm when we had kids, so we both could be home to raise them.
Of course, it didn't quite work out the way I envisaged...

Grim I like your post. So often people can't seem to think beyond the woman's role - she is damned if she does work and damned if she doesn't.

I agree about the childcare biz too - very much so; but with so many family members living far apart I suppose there isn't the extended family network. Some people don't have much choice especially if they are sole parents.

As you say at the last, "... a 1 income family doesn't necessitate a male bread winner." This is so true. If only men could have got with the program sooner - the workload could have been shared; they'd have had less pressure on them too; could have had more time to enjoy being with their children - all that; and the cost of housing might have stayed in check... maybe.

However, it's not too late. Lots of professional women love having partners who are prepared to be the homemaker some of the time. I know I am the envy of so many. We have made sure that our son and daughters are capable in a few domains including homemaking. They are adaptable; their sense of self isn't totally vested in any one endeavour.

I suspect that is the way of the future - adaptability; loyalty; a willingness to compromise and put the needs of others ahead of one's own a good bit of the time. I think it helps too if we can see the consumer society for what it is and reject as many of the excesses as possible. It's still possible to survive on one income.

Whatever the price, women now have a choice to be people in their own right.

From the age of 6 kids are away from home for a large part of the day, and from 13 are largely independent. It would be ridiculous to model her entire existence on the fleeting period of parenting.

My mother never needed to work, but did so part time from when we were about 10 to full time later, and as a result could hold an intelligent conversation.

My wife works part time for the same reasons, and is interesting company unlike the ditzes that circulate the tea parties.

You will never be any more than a shaddow minister, with a view like that.
Because she works makes her more interesting !
I don,t know how you come to that conclusion.
That would have to be one of the most biased things i have ever heard.
Even i would stand up for women with a remark like that.
You should individually send apoligies to every female that decides it's best to stay home and run a normal household.

Yes feminism has its price and it should be alright to say so. This doesn't mean that we should give up everything that feminism has given both genders, just that people should be aware of all of the implications of any changes. I have more of a problem with people who want all of the benefits of feminism but don't want to pay any of the costs.