Slaughter's Statement

Slaughter

Initially, Slaughters statement that men don’t have to make decisions regarding promotions, supporting a spouse’s career, and spending time with family comes across very naive and assuming. As I have recently had to make this very decision as a man and a father. I gave up a career that I loved and an extremely bright and promising future in so that I could spend more time with my children. I felt the need as a parent, husband and man, that it was my responsibility to ensure that they grew up into fine adults. I don’t ever recall that being a job “only for women.” However, this statement by slaughter is deceiving because as we read on throughout her article, she clarifies her stance and even recognizes the now common occurrence of

The understanding that decisions have consequences….and no one is responsible for our choices but ourselves. When she (as did I) made the decision to have children, that set-in motion a set of lifelong decisions (all of which will have consequences) that have been and will continue to have to be made for the rest of our lives. While I think that it is perfectly within anyone’s right to have children and have a career, it is not necessary for the world to revolve around OUR decisions. It was not my employers fault that I decided to have children, so why should they have to alter their livelihood and goals to support mine. While this may seem harsh, there is a flipside, if an employer wants to retain and attract an asset, then they will accommodate the work family relationship. Ultimately, the decision relies with you. Be thankful we live in a country where we can choose where and how we work. I am sure that the author would agree with me on principal, but disagree with me regarding the societal actions that, in her view, need to be changed. She would probably suggest flexible work hours and work from home as well as more vacation

She seems to know what suggestions are already going to be given. She counters them all very well with what you can tell are real struggles she has had. By answering these questions, she also gives herself a lot of relevancy and sincerity. It also could possibly cause us to rethink our perceptions and assumptions about how we treat poverty. I do disagree with one point in her rebuttal to the anticipated questions. The part where she says that her daughter will live like her and her sons will end up in jail sounds like she is content and accepting of her circumstances. While I do understand her plight and how it is perhaps easy to feel hopeless in situations such as these, but she seems to just accept the fact that poverty is inescapable. Let’s be clear, I am not saying that she wants to be in poverty, no one does, trust me, I’ve been there. But I truly believe that character has no need for money. Character is what will set our children up for success. Things such as will power, determination, values, and morals are all taught and learned. They cannot be bought. If they are bought, they were never there in the first place. These intangible traits are what we instill in our children. We can be “dirt floor poor” and still raise good children. If you continue banish your children to prison and poverty, it is a sure sign they will repeat the process.