“Intensive mothering is the ultimate female Olympics: We are all in powerful competition with each other, in constant danger of being trumped by the mom down the street, or in the magazine we're reading. The competition isn't just over who's a good mother--it's over who's the best. We compete with each other; we compete with ourselves. The best mothers always put their kids' needs before their own, period.” NeedsKidsMotherReadingPowerfulStreetsDangerMomPeriodsFemaleUltimateConstantCompetitionMotherhoodMagazinesOlympicsMotheringGood MotherBest Mother Author:Susan J. Douglas
“Here's the progression. Feminism won; you can have it all; of course you want children; mothers are better at raising children than fathers; of course your children come first; of course you come last; today's children need constant attention, cultivation, and adoration, or they'll become failures and hate you forever; you don't want to fail at that; it's easier for mothers to abandon their work and their dreams than for fathers; you don't want it all anymore (which is good because you can't have it all); who cares about equality, you're too tired; and whoops--here we are in 1954.” WantNeedsFirstsChildrenDreamCareTodayLastsMotherHateCoursesFatherAttentionForeverFailingFeminismEasierTiredConstantYour ChildrenAbandonWho CaresHate YouRaising ChildrenAdorationProgressionCultivation Author:Susan J. Douglas
“We need to make fun of and ridicule the media images that seek to keep us down, divide us against each other by age, class, and race, and insist that we spend so much psychic energy on our faces, clothes and bodies that nothing is left for ideas, social change, or politics.” NeedsIdeasBodyAgeFacesEnergyLeftFunSocialRaceClassMediaClothesDividesPsychicsSocial ChangeRidicule Author:Susan J. Douglas
