Author Leslie Bennetts is raising hackles with her new book, "The Feminine Mistake," which examines the economic impact of women leaving their jobs to raise families.
Bennetts writes that women who choose to leave the career track often put themselves at an economic disadvantage. If their husbands die, become disabled or divorce them, these women -- many of whom are well-educated but with little experience -- struggle to make ends meet.
In response to her many detractors, Bennetts has declared that her book has "nothing to do with feminism", which seems a bit beside the point.
Bennetts is making a point that's not really new. What bugs many stay-at-home moms who have posted reviews on Amazon.com is their perception that Bennetts is attacking their way of life.
I am a college educated stay at home mom of two small boys. I am proud to be doing that and to be defering to my husband to support me/us financially in this mutual decision. I feel it's a personal decision to stay home and try not to be judgemental of others, but to me there is no career worth giving up taking them and picking them up from school everyday, helping in their class, having simple chats after school, and most important being very present in their young lives.
That mom takes umbrage with Bennetts' judgment of the decision she made, but she doesn't acknowledge that Bennetts is simply pointing out a fact: Women who can't support themselves are at the mercy of the people who do.
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