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A Fresh Look at the Price of Motherhood
Why Ann Crittenden says the most important job in the world is still the least valued
Ann Crittenden's life changed dramatically in 1982: Her son was born. However, she didn't realize exactly how much it had changed until a stranger walked up to her at a party in New York and said, "Didn't you used to be Ann Crittenden?"
"It was at this moment that I knew I had to write this book," recalls Crittenden.
Crittenden enjoyed a tremendous career as a reporter for Fortune, Newsweek and then The New York Times. When her son was born, she either had to compromise her time with him by working 10 hours a day, or give up her position at The Times all together. And give it up she did.
"You can't have a family life with both parents working full time in a 24/7 economy," says Crittenden. She made the decision to put her son before her career because, essentially, there were no other options for mothers. And, according to Crittenden, they are still all too few.
"The feminist movement has dropped the ball on this issue," she says. "There needs to be a call to action for mothers. The movement liberated women, but not mothers."
Crittenden says that full-time working mothers are viewed as neglecting their children, while mothers who stay at home are accused of lying around all day eating bon bons. For a society that touts the benefits of hands-on mothering, Crittenden says it has yet to put its money where its mouth is and value the work that all mothers are doing.
In her latest book, "The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued," Crittenden presents the results of years of research on economic inequality of motherhood and its value, or lack thereof, to the American society.
"When I became a mother, I couldn't believe how much of a challenge it was," says Crittenden. "It takes wisdom, patience, character, part-teacher, part-counselor, part-manager and all the other skills that make up a highly skilled labor force. Can you believe I actually had someone say to me, 'Of all the couples we know, you're the only woman w
