It's a class issue - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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A True Feminine Mistake

Submitted by Mavky, Apr 21, 2007 16:03

Blum does give an ad hominem argument, and therefore it is easily dismissed as fallacy. However, the class issue he hints at is an important one. Anyone's privilege for leisure depends on the hard work of others, whether it is women in the home or all over the world who labor often in dangerous and oppressive conditions so that we can have computers and running shoes. That's the real story here, and Blum is right that the troubles of the privileged few are insignificant and worth only the tiniest violin. A person's feeling that she is laboring too hard should lead to compassion for others who also labor. Compassion for these laboring women worldwide would serve us all better than a misdirected anger at middle-class men who have only a slightly greater privilege. The complainer should ask, where is my own privilege coming from? Who makes it possible for me? What can I do for the women who have given me so much? Lead by example.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I'm a working mom, and I definitely don't think that's a mistake, on my part. My daughter's only 14 months,... [MORE]	Amanda Bernhard	Aug 1, 2008 13:16
Bennetts' work tries to make the point of the risk of dependence. However, in comparing death, disability, job loss with... [MORE]	dlm	Jan 30, 2008 20:40
Leslie, First of all, you have a husband and family who support you. Count your blessings, that is not the reality... [MORE]	Claudia	Oct 2, 2007 20:28
Claudia, You are the one missing the point. It's not about "supporting the stay home moms". It's about a realistic view... [MORE]	helena	May 14, 2008 08:13
I stayed home with my children until my oldest was 12 and my youngest 9. As a man you missed... [MORE]	hackrider	Sep 4, 2007 11:40
As a twenty-something with no kids, I was really looking forward to this book but thought it was a colossal... [MORE]	Elaine	Jul 20, 2007 02:05
I want to address this not just to Mr. Blum but also the people who wrote in, especially the women... [MORE]	R Brown	Jun 19, 2007 12:47
Mr. Blum, I don't know if you read these comments or not. Either way, thank you, sir, for speaking bravely.... [MORE]	Rebekkah	May 24, 2007 13:43
Sex is all that men are interested in 24/7. They can't wait to get married so they will have a... [MORE]	fran	Apr 29, 2007 12:23
I read your article after reading tons of global warming, delusional horse pucky. The book sounds like it is full... [MORE]	splut	May 28, 2007 13:23
God I'm glad I'm single! Life seems so hard for all you married folk w/kids: moms and dads, alike. I'd also... [MORE]	shunt	Apr 24, 2007 16:45
Leslie Bennetts' book was not a complaint about men. It merely states that women need to stay engaged with work,... [MORE]	Mildred Pierce	Apr 22, 2007 08:30
If they don't want to get married, they don't have to. If they don't want to have children, then don't have... [MORE]	Robert	Apr 22, 2007 01:28
Blum does give an ad hominem argument, and therefore it is easily dismissed as fallacy. However, the class issue he...	Mavky	Apr 21, 2007 16:03
In my house, I happen to earn 80% of the money, and I do about 50 % of the housework,... [MORE]	Johnny Doe	Apr 21, 2007 13:14
I get so tired of people complaining that men don't do their share around the house and that men who... [MORE]	Janet	Apr 21, 2007 12:50
Personally I think the late great Kurt Vonnegut had it right. The real problem is that most of us have... [MORE]	killmoretrout	Apr 21, 2007 12:50
Happily married 17 years. Wife quit work 15 yeas ago. 2 kids aged 11 and 8. I work a very stressful... [MORE]	Kennyboy	Apr 21, 2007 12:28
I read a comment were a man discussed his stressful job to support his wife and kids and, though this... [MORE]	Dani	Aug 29, 2007 17:42
I expect that all the man-hating women who think that men are layabouts etc etc tend to attract precisely those... [MORE]	Fleur	Apr 21, 2007 12:13
"My work has made me who I am". Isn't that interesting. If a man said that he would be accused of... [MORE]	Tim L	Apr 21, 2007 11:40
Before a speak my mind I want to applaud motherhood. I know how hard it is, and sacrificial, to take... [MORE]	Frank	Apr 21, 2007 06:31
In my experience many women could do with taking the logical approach to housekeeping, and not just insist that the... [MORE]	Annie	Apr 21, 2007 01:40
I am appalled that this book exists or that women think they have the rights to make demands in a... [MORE]	Kristin	Apr 20, 2007 13:20
Excuse me, David Blum, I thought you were critiquing a book, but it seems you were more concerned about blasting... [MORE]	Working Mother	Apr 20, 2007 10:06
You white folks with your nasty-mouth women are a pretty sad bunch. Y'all decided some 10-20 years ago to stop... [MORE]	Lem	Apr 23, 2007 21:59
So says an article on Slate from April 16 named "Couch Entitlement," on an economic study of the work men... [MORE]	Stephen	Apr 20, 2007 10:01
I guess I am in the minority around my gender. I do the laundry in our house. I do the... [MORE]	Former Submarine Sailor	Apr 20, 2007 08:55
I always find it funny when people insist this is only a dilemma for rich women. The truth is that... [MORE]	Deirdre Dashwood	Apr 19, 2007 18:14
She goes on to make clear that Jeremy only "helps" (her quotation marks, not mine) because she "made it clear... [MORE]	Claire	Apr 19, 2007 17:52
I'm always amused when disgruntled wives accuse their husbands of "refusing to share the burden of raising children and sharing... [MORE]	Jack in MA	Apr 20, 2007 11:54
Dear Jack, Congratulations to you and your wife on finding a way to share responsibilities that work for both of... [MORE]	Claire	Apr 21, 2007 08:00
Well, to suggest that math and science and pipes and computers are "man's work," is pretty close to reality for... [MORE]	Chris	Apr 22, 2007 13:04
I'm just a working class 46 year old woman, but in my small world what Ms. Bennett says in her... [MORE]	Donna	Apr 18, 2007 07:02
Yes, Donna, we have secret meetings where we memorize the manual so that there are no copies left around for... [MORE]	Forbes	Apr 19, 2007 18:37
Donna, projecting your anecdotal experience onto the entire male population is sloppy and sexist. I thought feminists marched in the... [MORE]	Dave in VA	Apr 19, 2007 19:52
New evidence strongly suggests men work just as much as women (see Slate article below). So why is there this... [MORE]	Fredrick	Apr 20, 2007 11:36
I know Dave, you must feel so victimized by Donnas sexism. Yes because if we admit that men and women... [MORE]	Bunifah	Apr 20, 2007 12:24
Oh awesome, a STUDY! A study which "strongly suggests" something!!! And it's cited by Slate! I guess the argument's over.... [MORE]	Claire	Apr 21, 2007 08:05
If you've never met a man who does his share of "women's work", try talking to a singe dad --... [MORE]	SingleInSanDiego	Apr 21, 2007 13:10
Isn't it interesting that the responses to Donna's comment have been dominated by men complaining about her misjudgement of life?... [MORE]	Cass	Apr 21, 2007 14:41
Claire, I mentioned the study because it added something to a discussion that's been dominated by anecdotal evidence. You'll excuse... [MORE]	Fredrick	Apr 21, 2007 20:10
The comments I've read and the review of the book (I've not read the book) seem to focus on the... [MORE]	denise banker	Apr 22, 2007 19:06
Cass writes: It's scary to realize that being lazy in a relationship, whether its emotionally or physically, is simply not... [MORE]	tom merle	Apr 22, 2007 20:26
But men get paid for their work. Try being financially dependent on a woman for 15 years and being a stay... [MORE]	Helena	May 14, 2008 08:33
This is all very nice, Denise, but the whole point is that it's all about who holds the power. In... [MORE]	Helena	May 14, 2008 08:43

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