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Opting In: Having A Child Without Losing Yourself (2008)

by Amy Richards(Favorite Author)

3.1 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0374226725 (ISBN13: 9780374226725)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

review 1: Perhaps one star is a little harsh. But, speaking as a feminist and a mother, here were a couple of my issues with the book (one more substantive, one more stylistic).1. She believes there's no more need for old-school feminism (much as she pays homage to its relevance in the past), although it's not clear what the "new" feminism is supposed to be. Apparently the patriarchy and systemic male privilege don't exist anymore. Gender oppression either doesn't exist, or it's perpetuated by other women. (Did you know that when men don't do their share of the housework, it's just as much their female partners' fault as their own?)You mean gender oppression doesn't exist anymore? Great! That makes me feel so much better! I guess I won't ask my MALE boss why my female-majorit... morey profession is paid so poorly compared to male-dominated fields. Oh, and by the way, I won't try to challenge all the people who make comments about whether my six-month-old baby daughter is "pretty," "coy," "flirtatious," and/or "ladylike."2. This book never successfully marries memoir with journalism/ commentary. I would have preferred to read one or the other. Also, it is full of generalizations, especially psychological ones, like "We (women) have trouble getting along with our mothers because we don't want to be the people our mothers were." Do I need to spell out what's wrong with this type of generalization from either a literary or a psychological perspective?[P.S. to my brother who bought this book for me... don't feel bad, it was still a great present! Based on the cover it seemed like a book I would like. Also, I love reading things I disagree with.:]
review 2: I grabbed this off the shelf at the library, as it was near other books I was looking at. I had no idea it was mostly about being a working mother, and touting what a cool feminist you are, but thus far some of the sections are useful/interesting. After finishing I liked some of the points about how some women feel judged for going back to work, and others judged for staying home. Made it more balanced. less

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