Why Women Still Can 't Have It All

In today’s economy, it is a hard fact that many women will have to enter the workforce. In her article for The Atlantic, “Why Women Still Can’t have it All”, Anne-Marie Slaughter examines the difficulties faced by women who either have children or would someday like to do so. Having given up on the task of holding a high powered government position while being the mother of a teenager, her kairotic moment, the author discusses the changes that would be necessary in order for women to find a real work-life balance. Although Slaughter 's target audience is primarily women who seek high powered positions, the article contains ample information that should appeal to both men who seek to balance the needs of a growing family with their work responsibilities, as well as workplace policy makers who could help usher in the necessary changes. Her goal in sharing her experiences is to argue that women can succeed at the very top level of their organizations, “But not today, not with the way America’s economy and society are currently structured” (Slaughter).

In life we are told to “have it all” by raising a perfect family, getting a beautiful house, and having a high paying job; but is it possible to have it all? How many people can honestly have it all, when so many are just trying to survive? In the articles, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” and “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All,” Anne-Marie Slaughter and Richard Dorment, discuss how women function in the workplace and the different expectant outcomes for each, mainly focusing on the upper class. The primary objective of Slaughter’s passage was to show how women are treated poorly and how they are held to a different standard than their male counterparts. Dorment focused mostly on how neither women nor men should strive to “have it all” because nobody can. Together they consider the subjects of workplace discrimination, housework standards, family involvement, and striving to “have it all.”

Material items and possessions may give temporary satisfaction, but after that fleeting moment, the cravings for more start anew. The Fisherman and His Wife and The Great Gatsby both show examples of how a person can never be satisfied with the amount of possessions they have. Satisfaction cannot be achieved unless that person is happy with themselves. Happiness should not depend on possessions, but rather self-satisfaction.

    In the article “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All,” by Richard Dorment, a senior writer and editor in esquire magazine, Dorment responds to Slaughter’s article by claiming men face the same problem as women do. He claims that recent times have made it much more difficult for men to balance work and family life. He

Many people have different perspectives about who can have it all. In “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” Anne-Marie Slaughter makes a point in her essay which is that you cannot have it all. However, in “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All,” Richard Dorment responds to her essay with a different opinion, and he makes arguments to prove his opinion about this topic. To understand his opinion, we are going to look at his points, how did he make the points, and my personal opinion on his argument.

For example, in Ann-Marie Slaughter’s essay “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” she arguably wrote that while she held office all she could think about were her sons. While she was regularly commuting between Washington and New Jersey many female politicians at her side and feminists at her side were horrified by the fact that she would give up the high-power position she was in for her “family.” This has even made some women say “I’ve never had to compromise, and my kids turned out great” (678). Although there is a shift in perspective of women being able to hold high-power positions it has caused this expectation that women should only focus on their career and disregard their home life. During this essay, Slaughter speaks about how women can have it all and then some with their careers and home lives, it would be absurd to want to spend more time at home with such a high-ranking career. Although, it is simply not true. Slaughter insists that you cannot enjoy a home life along with such a career. She states that if she was not sleeping or in a meeting she was writing reports, commenting on drafts, etc.

A woman has many decisions and sacrifices to make when balancing work and family. Ann-Marie Slaughter is the author of “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” where she explains what it is like to hold a higher ranking position and have children at home. She begins by building her credibility with personal facts and sources, citing other women in younger and older generations. Slaughter fills her essay with high emotion to empower women to be able to have a higher profession without giving up the time with the ones you love. She describes what it is like to lead her business life, and struggle to guide her children, when she doesn’t even have time for herself.

In recent history, the majority of the movement regarding the gender gap in the workplace has been in response to the opportunity available to males versus female. Today however, that debate topic has shifted to explain why opportunity does not grantee professional success and what role society plays on that restriction. It was already said by Sandberg that a difference in biology affects the choices individuals make, and that issue alone is independent from any social construct that would usually affect choices. Slaughter outlines one of these societal flaws is in the “unspoken rules” or norms of hiring and firing in Washington. She states, “to admit to, much less act on, maternal longings would have been fatal to their careers.” Often a euphemism for being fired is saying that one is leaving to focus on homemaking. It seems to be implied by the authors that often, merely having a family that deserves time and

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” –Abraham Lincoln.

In life people are told to “have it all” by raising a perfect family, getting a beautiful house, and having a high paying job; but is it possible to have it all? How many people can honestly have it all, when so many are just trying to survive? In the articles, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” and “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All,” Anne-Marie Slaughter and Richard Dorment, discuss how women function in the workplace and the different expectant outcomes for each; mainly focusing on the upper class. The primary objective of Slaughter’s passage was to show how women are treated poorly and how they are held to a different standard than their male counterparts. While Dorment focused mostly on how neither women nor men should strive to “have it all” because nobody can. Together they consider the subjects of workplace discrimination, housework standards, family involvement, and striving to “have it all.”

Being satisfied with one’s life can be effortless, but for my father that is not the case. For my father to be happy with his life, he would have to see his children succeed in goals that they have set for their future and to not work as hard as him for a living. He would want to change his career that would give further financial security, while having extra time to stay with family provided that he could.

Happiness on the job is closely related to contentment of values. In fact, happiness could just be

Is it really possible for women to have it all, both satisfying career and family life simultaneously? In the following sentences ahead Sheryl Sandberg and two of her contemporaries will try to answer if it is possible for women to have it all. Sheryl Sandberg is the author of, “Lean in: What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?” and currently, CEO of Facebook, believes women can really have it all. Growing up in a Jewish family being reminded of the equality of boys and girls, all the while traditional values of marriage were very prevalent. At a young age, Sandburg was married and divorced within one year, unlike her grandmother (649). Sandberg draws her inspiration from her grandmother because of her continuous work ethics in a time

Robert Dorment’s summary from his article talked about that women always complained about men did wrong but men who worked so hard for their family and work-life balance. Richard used that word “castigate” for men that means women scold men, but they did not realize men worked so hard. Other quote about the castigation of men, “…person whose husband, by her own admission, sacrificed much in his own academic career to do other heavy lifting with their children, all so she could pursue her dream job and then complain about it, bitterly, in the pages of a national magazine” (Dorment 708). Anne-Marie Slaughter explained that women who get promotion from other positions that they realized they do not have spent time with their family and some women who leave their jobs because of their family reasons. The quote said, “It is unthinkable that an official would actually step down to spend time with his or her family that this must be a cover for something else” (Slaughter 682). Third article called Women, work and work/life balance: Research roundup talked about the wage inequality and unequal responsibilities between men and women. Women have more family responsibilities than men do because some women are staying at home while taking care of their kids. Last article, Work-Life Balance – An integrated Approach: The case for joint and several responsibility talked about the

Before this class I never put thought about my family goals because I believed it was not important at this point in my life. However, during the class after discussions and reading Meg Jay’s book especially, I started to understand the importance of work-life balance. Meg Jay’s advice and the story she shared about Emma really resonated with me. Meg Jay stated that, “the foregrounding of the individual in relationships has caused us to forget about one of our