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When I first read Hirshman's article in the American Prospect, which I thought was an incisive critique of sex roles and attitudes toward work among the privileged, what struck me was how uncritical she was of work itself.
Hirshman condemned women who welcome the chance to leave the workplace, marveling at the attitude of a female MBA who didn't understand her male coworkers' worship of money and "the deal." But frankly, as a man, I can't imagine wanting to work in such an environment either. The workplace is nothing to get excited about: The majority of jobs outside the home are repetitious and socially invisible, and many of those jobs (men's especially) are physical as well, just like the housework that Hirshman described in the same terms; while prestige careers in law and business demand a degree of intensity and one-way commitment (employee to company, never vice versa) that would unbalance anyone's life, if one isn't unbalanced already. And as horrified as Hirshman is by educated, privileged women who decide that stay-at-home motherhood is preferable to these soul-consuming jobs, I am by her apparent contempt for "socially meaningful" employment and the desire to attend college for education's sake rather than for the sake of a career. Is it really "bad for society" for women not to crave money and power the way (some) men do? Personally, I think the market economy she extols does a lot more damage to society than the idealism she derides.
Five years ago, fed up with the values and atmosphere of the modern workplace, I'd have leaped at the opportunity to be a stay-at-home spouse. Since then, I've discovered an enthusiasm for teaching and begun a new career in education, and I finally feel like I have a reason to work aside from the paycheck. Perhaps I should be ashamed of this decision, since I've chosen "idealism" over "success," which suggests that I'm not treating work seriously enough. But on the brighter side, I suppose I can be of benefit to a good career-oriented feminist who's looking to marry down. Any takers?
