Let the Women Work

Megan W. Age 14, Canadian International School

Let the Women Work

        Since ancient times, women have been the ones to take charge of childcare duties, while the men have gone out to earn a living and support their families. However, since then, times have changed. Mothers are starting to become the breadwinners of the nuclear family while the fathers are fulfilling the domestic obligations around the house; hence why more women should work and let the men stay home.

       

        Women carrying out the “Honey, I’m home,” role has now become extremely common, especially in the United States, as women now possess the ability to earn enough for both parents, in the case of having a family. A research study conducted in early June of 2013 shows that 40% of American households have the woman, wife, and/or mother being the sole or primary breadwinner. Additionally, the number of stay-at-home fathers in the United States has doubled in the past decade, to approximately 626,000. History has also proven time and again that, contrary to popular belief, women are just as, if not more, capable of working a man’s job and excelling at it; even the two highest IQ scores ever recorded belonged to women.

        Having a stay at home parent is very beneficial to the child’s upbringing and behavior, although this

does not, by any means, insinuate that it should be the woman staying home. Choosing the parent that stays home should not be chosen by gender, rather that “whoever has more time can take on more of the domestic role,” states Karl Taro Greeenfeld, author of “Triburbia” and a stay at home dad.

        Another example of the idea that more women should work and let the men stay home is that of Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong. These women have travelled hundreds of miles, and are under contract for 2 years at a time. Currently, the Philippines’ largest and main export trade is its female labor. Many of the helpers’ husbands, though many have jobs in their hometowns, have to take on the role of the caretaker while their wives are away, working hard to earn their families’ main source of income.

        On the other hand, women are, by nature and instinctively, more nurturing than men and traditionally, it is their place in the family to stay at home and take care of the children. Women are believed to have more skill or expertise in the field of children, whether this is simply an idea put into people’/s minds by society or otherwise.

        A University of Michigan research study suggests that the idea of women being naturally more capable than men to take care of a child is merely a social construct, perhaps even a man’s way of instating his dominance in the family. Other studies have also proven that genetically and psychologically, men and women are not all that different and neither one is ‘more capable’ of being a nurturing, loving, and caring parent.

        In the 21^st century, both mothers and fathers have an active role in raising a child, whether this role is financially supporting their family, or taking care of the household chores. Both roles are equally as important, and a woman is equally capable of fulfilling the breadwinner role of the family. Therefore, more women should be able to work and let the men stay at home.