to work or not to work

[Sara516]

Re: to work or not to work

@Scherbatsky

all those things are productive but those are not the only ways to be a productive woman.

And I never said that they were the only ways…which is why I asked, how do you define what’s productive?

Volunteering, working, raising kids–these are the 1st three things that come to mind when I hear the word “productive” so I was interested in hearing another perspective on it.

What about single women that are privileged - who have the luxury to decide exactly how they want to spend life and what they will do with their time, isn’t it somewhat of an unfair label to say they aren’t productive? What about women who value their happiness and make that a priority, ie they know what things they want more of in life and less of in life and they choose to build their lifestyle around that - If we don’t understand them, is it fair to say they aren’t productive? And productive in what sense? Growing themselves, people around them or helping world be a better place, pay taxes, etc. if so, does a 9-5 mind-numbing job really make someone that much more productive?

Do you basically mean–a happy woman makes a happy home for the husband and kids? if so, I can agree with that.

But by going by the rest of that logic…you can say that the Kim Kardashians and Paris Hiltons of the world are productive as well…

Growing themselves, people around them or helping world be a better place, pay taxes, etc. if so, does a 9-5 mind-numbing job really make someone that much more productive?

Compared to someone who’s: not going to school, not taking care of any family members or children…yes, yes it does. That “mind numbing” job is still doing more than not working (and being completely free of responsibilities) is–can be paying for the kind of lifestyle you want, it can pay for someone’s future education or down payment for a home, a car, a vacation etc.

What if a woman whose children are going to school spends her intelligence and uses it in her everyday life for a better quality of life - while interacting with her family/friends, social networking, having intelligent company, and really enjoying each moment. Is that really an unproductive life? What if she also then ends up being the mother that has quality dialogue with her children because a) she’s happy and content with her life and b) she’s a thinker and curious and challenges her children to do the same. Should this not include her as being productive?

No I don’t think that’s an unproductive life. I believe that falls under:

Staying home and raising well behaved and good children is productive.