Do women have the "right to not work"?

Question

Someone told me that feminism will languish as long as women have the "right to not work". Does the idea that women have a choice (whether to enter the workplace or have a man support them financially) hold them back from getting equal respect as men?

Answer 1

How do you define the "right not to work"? Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to work but it is not socially acceptable (for men or women) to choose not to earn a living and contribute to the economy.

However, women who choose not to work are generally supported by their partners. This would seem to make it a choice - they have a right to choose to not work if they and their partner agree. And I would argue that this would be true for men as well if it was so desired.

Does this choice hold women back from equal respect as men? Probably. In many respects, men who do place their family first do not advance as highly as men whose focus is on their career. Though it is arguable whether success = respect.

Women who choose to stay home cop criticism that they are undoing the work of early feminists. This may be true at a societal level where women become less valued as employees because of the special arrangements employers have to make for them (maternal leave, carers leave etc). Which is sad because at an individual level, all these women are doing is making a choice and they should be respected for that too.

Answer 2

If you mean work in the workforce, Absofrikkenlutely! Women shouldn't HAVE to work. Don't be a moocher either though. Homemakers have the most important jobs on Earth! As such, they work VERY hard. And all should be respected even moreso than a man who simply takes home the bacon. I certainly respect women who choose to take care of their families. Family should always come first, for both the father as well as the mother.

Women working for money absolutely did not help the economy. Remember 50 years ago? Few women worked. A family of 4 could buy a house and a car with the Father working in a factory. How did women entering the workforce make the economy better? In fact it really made the economy worse!

Women entering the workforce actually decreased competition. Surprising huh? I know that when I was younger I assumed that my wife would be working and matching my income. Had I assumed that I would be the only breadwinner, I would have worked a LOT harder in school. A LOOOT of men did and still do the same thing. They don't try as hard. As such, competition is weaker.


I really like your question.

Answer 3

Yes, it does. Feminism also will languish as long as people don't recognize, acknowledge, and give equal weight to the differences between men and women. If men could give birth, it wouldn't even be an issue. Couples would pick the best choice to stay home. As long as children are born, they will need care, and women just happen to be much better at it in so many ways. It is unfortunate that raising the next generations of human beings is not looked upon by some to be just as noble and worthy as working outside to bring home support. Both deserve equal respect.

Answer 4

I don't think that all women have this choice. It's reliant not only on having a male partner, or a male partner who earns enough to support you, but a male partner, who earns enough to support you and is willing to work while you stay at home.

I don't think many men would find a woman who said "I'm looking for a man to support me financially" would find her an appealing prospect, so it's not a choice that many would have.

In a similar situation, don't men have the same choice? There is no law preventing men from being supported by their female partners.

Answer 5

it should remain a choice. Some women are very comfortable staying home and caring for the children while the man works and brings home the money. And things are changing more and more men are staying home with the children. I think is should remain a choice. I personally, do not want to stay at home. I enjoy having a career. God bless

Answer 6

Feminism is about equality. We have been given a choice to stay home or work, just like men have a choice to stay home or work. Everyone has choices. You should like feminism intimidates you a bit.

Answer 7

I agree with the statement that not working is bad for feminism. I also think the world is not supportive of us as we continue to work which needs to be addressed and a focus of the movement. In other words, feminists need to work toward access to childcare for everyone and not denegrate women who work.

Answer 8

We all have rights and it should not be gender bias. If a man/woman want to stay home and take care of home and kids then what's the problem? If a man/woman want to be taken care of then what's the problem? As a woman I prefer to work, I prefer to have my own money, I prefer to buy whatever it is I need/want, I prefer to know that I make a difference in my job, I prefer to not sit at home all day watching tv and eating bon-bons or whatever people without jobs do. Even if I had someone taking care of me, I prefer to work.

Answer 9

Actually, there are cases where the wife supports the husband. My mother supported two children and my dad for 15 years. Including medical, dental, food, clothes, lunch money, it goes on and on.

The fact is sometimes the wife supports the husband (who stays home and cooks, cleans, etc./only fair since the mother works.)

Yet again sometimes the husband supports the wife. My dad has just now recently got a job and now my mother stays home. He will take care of us for a couple years (1-3) and then my mother, me, my brother, and my dad will all be working. We plan to work and support each other. =)

Good jobs of course. We all want to be succesful in life. =)

Hope this helps. =)

Answer 10

The right not to work is so "un-feministic". I would understand if someone has 5 kids then it would be hard to have time for both career and child rearing. Being a mom is already a full time job. Other than that, women have the right to a career.