(Photo of me and my last son Jeff twenty-five years ago.) With the addition of the latest candidate in the political scene Sarah Palin, guess I'll put in my two bits. There was an article in today's newspaper lamenting the lack of female applicants for the University of Utah's medical school.
It said...Males are in the majority at med school. The ratio of men to women attending the University of Utah medical school is almost 2-1 and is one of the most uneven in the country...where about 49% of medical students nationwide are women. Last year only 30% of the applicants were women...part of the reason is because most of the women come from within the state of Utah where many are influenced by the LDS church to be the primary caregivers at home and are less likely to focus on a career.
It said...Males are in the majority at med school. The ratio of men to women attending the University of Utah medical school is almost 2-1 and is one of the most uneven in the country...where about 49% of medical students nationwide are women. Last year only 30% of the applicants were women...part of the reason is because most of the women come from within the state of Utah where many are influenced by the LDS church to be the primary caregivers at home and are less likely to focus on a career.
I don't know about you but when I consider Sarah Palin as a possible President in case of some mishap to John McCain, I feel uneasy about it. Not that I don't feel a women can have a career, but it's difficult for her family. Maybe her husband First Dude can take her place at home but can he do it as well? I believe women are different than men. Our church teaches that also... By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
Having been a single parent and working mom, I can attest that it is possible to work and raise children but I do admire those women who, although trained and educated for a job, are able to make the choice to stay at home and nurture their children. Our society has such high expectations for us to have the highest standard of living-new home, two cars, etc. Many times that necessitates both parents working. It can be done and children can be raised by extended family or care centers, but is it worth it?
I've worked full time, part time and stayed at home when possible and can testify that there is plenty of work to fill your days in being a homemaker and mother. Not that you shouldn't get an education and job experience to fall back on, but being a parent is a 24/7 job for both parents and one of them needs to be on duty at all times with the other one hopefully providing the income to support the family. Call me old fashioned or conservative.
I've worked full time, part time and stayed at home when possible and can testify that there is plenty of work to fill your days in being a homemaker and mother. Not that you shouldn't get an education and job experience to fall back on, but being a parent is a 24/7 job for both parents and one of them needs to be on duty at all times with the other one hopefully providing the income to support the family. Call me old fashioned or conservative.
So back to Sarah Palin with a special needs baby and a pregnant teenager, how in the world can she sacrifice their needs for a career as VP or maybe even President of the USA? Let's hear your comments....