Introduction
In her book, “Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World,” author Linda Hirshman debates that looking after the house and the “choice” to sacrifice work and career to look after the children is a wrong choice made by women. She emphatically states this choice to stay at home to “wipe butts”, is “choice feminism” and that educated women who choose traditional roles of home-making do so because of the little or no support that they receive from their families and husbands in looking after the family.
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She emphasizes the need for a new revolution, one which will herald the reform of the sexual family politics and enable women to provide their complete participation at the workplace. It is this “choice feminism” that Linda criticizes, made by the innumerable women to be “homeward bound”, stating that housework and looking after children is a drudgery, which does not extract the full potential and capacity of women.
Linda strongly criticizes and condemns this “choice”, which ultimately bonds women to their homes and husbands, making them entirely dependent upon them. Being bound to their homes is not only harmful to the future of women but to the society as well, for Linda feels that when women choose to give up their public jobs for private chores, they detach themselves from society, with the result that the society will be male-dominated at all levels. Stating that, sometimes to make a choice between home and work may be tough on women, but the right choice for women is to work, which will prove to be beneficial not only personally but to the society as well. To Linda, it is not important whether the woman is happy staying home or working, for her what is crucial and of utmost importance is that women, like men, must work at any cost. They must never sacrifice their jobs for the sake of the family and children, arguing that men would never choose home overwork, when provided with a similar choice.
Thus, Linda states, “choice feminism” is what is actually hindering the progress of women. Linda in this way appeals to all the women, who have worked hard to acquire degrees, to unite together and collectively work towards changing the fundamental institution of the patriarchal form of family.
In her book, ‘Get to work,’ Linda encourages the women to dream big. Linda urges the women to harness dreams of making it big in the world, to work towards achieving those dreams and to never give them up in any situation in life. She even has a ‘plan’ in place to help women choose better careers. In this plan, Linda proposes that women must not choose arts as their field of study. She urges the young potential female graduates to harness dreams of achieving complex goals in life which they surely know they would succeed in. These could be a vision to alter or shape the future by aspiring to become an artist, or a lawyer, or to own a restaurant, becoming a scientist, nurse or a dress designer. She suggests that women must utilize their education well and that they should never quit a job before they find another. Linda agrees that the goals may not be achieved in all cases, but it is crucial, she reiterates, that the women work to their full potential in achieving their milestones in life. Only by dreaming big and working towards achieving those dreams would it be possible for the women to break free from the shackles of the “glass ceiling” which ironically does not exist at the workplace but in the homes of women.
Linda has full perception of the ways of the “modern” society and how there will be roadblocks in the path to women’s success, but the “love of work” will be instrumental in ensuring that these aspiring women achieve success in their lives.
Linda agrees that there is gender-related injustice and bias at the workplace where most women may not be taken as seriously as their male counterparts, causing them to retreat. This attitude, Linda stresses needs to change. She states that women must not give up their jobs when they are dissatisfied, in the hope of getting a workplace that is more fulfilling. This attitude is an extension of the biased attitude that men have deeply rooted in their minds and in the societal norms regarding gender-related work.
Linda even goes all out to criticize the government taxation system where a working woman’s income is taxed relatively more heavily than that of a single woman’s income by the Internal Revenue Service taxation department. A valid proposal Linda forwards is that a change in this taxation law would enable women to make crucial decisions between choosing work and home. Linda also advises women to choose governments that support the causes of women.
Linda openly condemns and ridicules women, who work as “blogging” moms, writing about mundane activities such as baby food and apparel to suit the children’s routine. She states that not only are these women boring but “dangerous” as well. Linda takes the liberty of instructing women to “have a baby, Just don’t have two”, reason being that it is easy to “outsource” the care of one child whereas two children will negatively affect the efficiency of a woman’s work. According to her, it is the women who should have the courage and strength to break away from this perception and prejudices that housework is merely the domain of women and that men cannot take part in it to help women. Women as such, must demand male support on the domestic front.
Linda’s concern is based on the fact that when a woman is in charge of “70 percent” of her family duties and working at the same time, she and the quality of work is bound to suffer and this would reflect in her work efficiency. Linda states that women tend to have the notion in their minds, that raising children is the most important thing to do in the world. She debates that if this were truly the case then most men would not be making nuclear bombs, making war or decoding the DNA, they would be raising children and looking after the family in place of women. She furthers her valid argument by questioning that how could child-raising be the most important thing; when, from the age of five children spend most of their hours at the school.
The most fundamental and crucial institution as per the society, the patriarchal system of family, is what needs a serious transformation, according to the author. She states that a family is and should be the responsibility of both the partners, housework being a repetitive and ‘less flourishing sphere’. Why then, Linda argues should a sphere which does not reap many rewards and benefits should be the “natural and moral responsibility’ of women only? She states that expecting women to take over this unproductive domain is unjust, more unjust is the fact that women “choose” it!
Summary
Linda argues that unless and until women demand the support of men at the home front, men will never accept the responsibilities of the house. She stresses that in order for women to succeed and make conducive changes for their own betterment, women must stand up and ask for male support at home. Only then will men actually begin to co-operate in the affairs of the house which will go a long way in relieving women of the responsibilities of home and enhancing their prospects and efficiency at the workplace. Women should never compromise in matters relating to work, is what Linda firmly re-iterates time and again, and never make a “choice” of quitting work for the sake of family.