A friend of mine who is tuned in to the world of social science tipped me off to a new book on, yes, the “opt out” conversation called, Opting-Out? Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home.
My stack of reading looms as a teetering skyscraper next to my bed, so I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on this one yet to add it to my book tower. But Deborah Siegel over at Girl With Pen has and I am thankful that an author has taken on this subject without making us feel guilty about our so-called choices.
Opting-Out? author Pamela Stone, a professor of sociology, apparently has the research to back-up what many (including yours truly) have thought on this topic — you can’t “opt” unless you have a real choice, and there really aren’t that many choices out there for women when it comes to negotiating something other than the traditional, male-driven 9-to-5 (or, really, 7-to-7) work day if you want to keep moving up the career ladder.
Apparently, many of the women interviewed for the book talk about how the choices that get so much attention in the media are really not choices at all — can you say “pushed out?”
I’m so glad this side of the issue is finally getting some attention. Let’s hope that Professor Stone can get the same amount of air time as Leslie Bennetts.
May 10th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Finally! It’s good to see someone taking a more critical look at this issue and not resorting to the typical woman-blaming rhetoric.
May 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Gah! Another book that I must read. It will be nice to read one that isn’t heaping guilt and judgment on one side or the other.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Heaping on guilt and judgment merely puts two more obstacles in the way of discussing the true economical, political, social and cultural reasons care giving is undervalued in the United States. As Lawyer mama, I too am relieved that there is a book which may actually allow the dialogue to happen that will foster a shift in the paradigm so issues are the focus and not personal attacks on mothers and others.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Thank you for the tip, PM!
Ironically, I am buried in coursework to become a sociologist at the moment, so it will probably be a few weeks before I can fit this book in.
May 14th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I read “Opting Out?” to prepare for my Today Show segment that also featured Pamela Stone on a video clip. Her book is really well-done. You can read it without fear of encountering a judgmental smackdown.
Professor Stone conducted extensive interviews with 54 women. She lets her subjects’ voices come through and presents the whole topic in a very fair manner. Her book is much more nuanced than merely the “are we pushed or do we jump?” framework that is being written up in the media.
May 20th, 2007 at 8:02 am
I just read Stone’s book too. Hope to get a review posted soon.