Yeah well, there's too many babies being born anyway.

However, I think Gibo's on the money with this subject: clearly, the purpose of women is to serve men by keeping our houses clean, our tummies full and our sexual desires serviced. It is clearly their privilege to sacrifice any professional aspirations they might foolishly harbour if they want to have children too.

“but is this what patriarchy expects of them?”

It is what a patriarchy would expect of them. However, we do not live in a patriarchy.

“As I see it, patriarchal values still rule.”

I think otherwise.

The patriarchal social system started to die out during WWI and was buried when universal suffrage was extended to women and the inheritance laws modified to allow women to own property in their own name.

Since that time women have continued to aspire into the roles which were previously an exclusive male domain.

Some say women cannot be properly represented until they have greater numbers in parliament etc.

My view, if they have the right to stand then it is up to them to promote themselves before the electorate and be elevated by the will of that electorate, rather than rely on some affirmative-action based manipulation which forces them upon the electorate.

On this matter I have always been heartened by Margaret Thatchers response to the role of women observed several years ago:

“The battle for women's rights has been largely won.”

Hardly the response of someone trodden underfoot by patriarchal oppression.

Hi Foxy,

Offcourse there is change, it is inevitable. Nevertheless, the status quo remains.

Hi runner,

I'm not devaluing motherhood at all. Women, if they want, should have children. The choice is theirs.

Hi sharkfin,

What I said about birthing machines has nothing to do with the baby bonus. All I am saying is that most men reap the rewards of domestic slavery, but that some women are allowing this to happen to them.

Just in case many of you have missed the point
IT IS MOTHERS who raise the selfish and sexist males of this world
treating the little so and so's like little gods

i call it the messiah mothering complex

It is mothering [smothering] that has created huge expectations upon an innocent child ,that expects someone else to do EVErything

Then when no one loves you as much as the mother who adored and served your eve-ry need you tend to become just what the mothers raised you to be [spoiled rotten, and very self centered]

The question could have more or better been adressed by talking about mothering types [the servant mother crewates the dicta-tory-ial chavenist pigglet]

what is that ?
just look arround you
[i know its a Downer]
BUT
as your mother sewed so shall you reap