Comments on: Who’s Afraid of the Mommy Wars? http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/ Red is Good. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:51:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: AbsolutelyBananas http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1899 AbsolutelyBananas Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:27:08 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1899 Interesting post. I read the Newsweek article and have strong feelings about it. What purports to be an article about one woman's disdain for a media-hyped battle between stay-at-home moms and working moms when read closely is actually mroe about the author's dislike for mommy literature and topics in general. And this I can't agree with. When put up against other best-selling (and often vapid) topics-- romance, murder, science fiction-- I personally think that mommy topics, including the struggles of modern day parenting and the moments of insight that come with them, are equally interesting. And they're MORE relevant to me, because I happen to be a mom.Sure there's books that are poorly written and over hyped. But show me a genre where this ISN'T the case. If it's narcissistic to WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW then every good author in the world is guilty as charged. If it's narcissitic to enjoy characters who are going through similar experiences to yours, I'd say 95% of the reading world should start worrying. I find it ridiculous that Kathleen Deveny writes an article in a major magazine in which she implies and in some cases outright states that 1) talking about being a mom is boring and a waste of print 2) parenting in this century is uninteresting, at least as it applies to moms 3) the struggles that women deal with when balancing work and motherhood should be dealt with in quiet, without discussion or comment. It's "BORING". I absolutely agree that women need to stop tearing each other down for our parenting choices. But I also believe that what we're doing, whether staying at home, working, or some hybrid, IS interesting. Being a mother is possibly the single most life-changing event that a woman (or man) will experience. As such it IS worth talking about. It IS interesting. And it certainly merits a place in the literary and news world. /rant Interesting post.

I read the Newsweek article and have strong feelings about it. What purports to be an article about one woman’s disdain for a media-hyped battle between stay-at-home moms and working moms when read closely is actually mroe about the author’s dislike for mommy literature and topics in general. And this I can’t agree with.

When put up against other best-selling (and often vapid) topics– romance, murder, science fiction– I personally think that mommy topics, including the struggles of modern day parenting and the moments of insight that come with them, are equally interesting. And they’re MORE relevant to me, because I happen to be a mom.Sure there’s books that are poorly written and over hyped. But show me a genre where this ISN’T the case.

If it’s narcissistic to WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW then every good author in the world is guilty as charged.

If it’s narcissitic to enjoy characters who are going through similar experiences to yours, I’d say 95% of the reading world should start worrying.

I find it ridiculous that Kathleen Deveny writes an article in a major magazine in which she implies and in some cases outright states that
1) talking about being a mom is boring and a waste of print
2) parenting in this century is uninteresting, at least as it applies to moms
3) the struggles that women deal with when balancing work and motherhood should be dealt with in quiet, without discussion or comment. It’s “BORING”.

I absolutely agree that women need to stop tearing each other down for our parenting choices. But I also believe that what we’re doing, whether staying at home, working, or some hybrid, IS interesting. Being a mother is possibly the single most life-changing event that a woman (or man) will experience. As such it IS worth talking about. It IS interesting. And it certainly merits a place in the literary and news world.

/rant

]]> By: MammaLoves http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1898 MammaLoves Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:04:04 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1898 To clarify Redsy, I wasn't meaning that I think you were calling it a war. My anger was directed at the media. They obviously are missing out what the women are doing out here in the world. To clarify Redsy, I wasn’t meaning that I think you were calling it a war. My anger was directed at the media.

They obviously are missing out what the women are doing out here in the world.

]]> By: BOSSY http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1897 BOSSY Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:09:08 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1897 Bossy has enough arguing going on inside her very head. Bossy has enough arguing going on inside her very head.

]]> By: Her Bad Mother http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1896 Her Bad Mother Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:06:55 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1896 It's incendiary, sure. But it needn't involve flame-throwing, which is what sometimes happens. Thho' nto nearly so often as the media likes to suggest. It’s incendiary, sure. But it needn’t involve flame-throwing, which is what sometimes happens. Thho’ nto nearly so often as the media likes to suggest.

]]> By: cronznet http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1895 cronznet Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:35:40 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1895 Agree with you and MommaLoves. In another day and age we were accused of having "cat fights." I guess they think adding "wars" makes it less obvious that they intend to demean? Agree with you and MommaLoves. In another day and age we were accused of having “cat fights.” I guess they think adding “wars” makes it less obvious that they intend to demean?

]]> By: Oh, The Joys http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1907 Oh, The Joys Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:19:40 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1907 I like your point. Alternatively, most days I'm too tired from fighting with my toddler to fight with anyone else. I like your point. Alternatively, most days I’m too tired from fighting with my toddler to fight with anyone else.

]]> By: Kristen http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1906 Kristen Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:09:41 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1906 Yeah. What Karrie said. Yeah. What Karrie said.

]]> By: karriew http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1905 karriew Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:41:25 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1905 I'm kind of over dissecting parenthood period, but I do understand your point. For the past couple of years I have participated in an online debate board which is part of a hopelessly mainstream parenting site. You're dead on that sometimes arguing your position can open your mind to new ideas. The problem I have with the way the "Mommy Wars" are portrayed in the media is that everything is either/or. Only rarely do we read nuanced accounts of women who are still in the midst of figuring out their position on important issues and hot topics. I'm tired of constantly having to label myself. I’m kind of over dissecting parenthood period, but I do understand your point.

For the past couple of years I have participated in an online debate board which is part of a hopelessly mainstream parenting site. You’re dead on that sometimes arguing your position can open your mind to new ideas.

The problem I have with the way the “Mommy Wars” are portrayed in the media is that everything is either/or. Only rarely do we read nuanced accounts of women who are still in the midst of figuring out their position on important issues and hot topics. I’m tired of constantly having to label myself.

]]> By: whymommy http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1904 whymommy Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:50:12 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1904 Interesting... but I'm over them. I just wish the mainstream media had half an idea of the amazing things happening here in the mommy corners of the blogosphere.... Interesting… but I’m over them. I just wish the mainstream media had half an idea of the amazing things happening here in the mommy corners of the blogosphere….

]]> By: MammaLoves http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1903 MammaLoves Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:28:48 +0000 http://redsy.com/2007/08/13/whos-afraid-of-the-mommy-wars/#comment-1903 When men disagree it's called a debate. When women disagree it's a "mommy war." From the mainstream media, you'd think it was the only thing about which we women have an opinion--besides cleaning products and fashion of course. I'm sorry, it pisses me off. It's so dismissive to label it as such. When men disagree it’s called a debate. When women disagree it’s a “mommy war.” From the mainstream media, you’d think it was the only thing about which we women have an opinion–besides cleaning products and fashion of course.

I’m sorry, it pisses me off. It’s so dismissive to label it as such.

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