If you only have one choice of being either a career woman or a full time housewife/mother, which one would you like to select? this is a woman’s dilemma in modern society.
Before Women’s Liberation Movement in 1960s, women were considered as second-class people and had been cultivated to accept the belief of being inferior physically and mentally to men. Women didn’t have rights to vote, to obtain formal education, to be independent financially. Women, to some degree, were thought merely reproductive machines and their jobs were only limited to homes. Since women’s consciousness for equal civil rights as men had have been fully wakened, women have won the same educational opportunities as men have and therefore become professionals in almost every field. However, in terms of female’s biological intrinsic characteristics in this men-dominated society, women could bump into the quandary ---- be a full time housewife or a career woman?
In my point of view, this dilemma does not universally apply for all women and in all situations. Whether it is a real dilemma highly depends on many influential factors, such as the woman’s personality, financial state, etc. For instance, women who are less aggressive and ambitious with a steady financial support may tend to be housewives while those who determinedly pursue and fulfill their occupational dreams may not prefer giving up their careers for an easy and prepared life. In some cases, women have to stop their careers for a period of time as they have to focus on raising their young children. These women will carry on their careers as soon as their children are good enough to basically take care of themselves. So generally speaking, the dilemma can not be taken as black or white. It is difficult to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages for a woman to be at home or to fight in the competitive specialized areas.
Women could sacrifice their careers a bit for their families. However, completely leaving their careers behind for marriage or child-care is not a wise choice in my opinion. To a woman, having a career is not only for obtaining financial support for the whole family, most importantly for being independent. A career is indispensable for women to gain some profound insights about themselves, to establish their own confidence, to keep their own individualities and to develop their potential. All of these will benefit their children and families sooner or later. As a modern woman, one should balance out her work and family life.
Our society is developing. The social roles of men and women are varying too. Nowadays, while people are much more open-minded, the family’s stereotype is not status-quo any more. Men and women share family responsibilities shoulder to shoulder. Alternatively, men could be house husbands while their wives’ careers are more promising. Under these circumstances, will men suffer this dilemma too?
我那裏有一個心理測試，有空過去玩一玩哈~~~