The Book
Overview of 7 Myths of Working Mothers
In 7 Myths of Working Mothers, Suzanne Venker fearlessly tackles the issues of working motherhood that have caused the most contention: family economics, the notion of “quality time,” women’s guilt and stress, gender equality, and day care. Drawing on extensive research and her own experience as a mother and teacher, she explodes myth after myth about working mothers, including:
- “I’m a better mom for working.”
- “My children just love day care.”
- “I could balance work and family if I had more support.”
As she takes on these myths, Venker builds an unassailable case for a link between the problems of today’s children and the absence of mothers from the home. Her argument does not dismiss the value of women seeking careers; it simply suggests that women should plan their careers around motherhood, rather than the other way around. “Accepting motherhood as a full-time job,” writes Venker, “does not mean women must be completely out of the workforce. It simply means that while they have young children women will have to be creative in fitting other work in around their primary obligation to their children.”
