Wow, assume much and then file the assumptions as stated fact. Regrettable style of discourse.
Ya built the argument on sandy land, so, be prepared for its collapse:
#1- you’re confusing historical gender roles with current(modern) reality. A woman taking in laundry, doing sewing, etc did so IN THE HOME. That’s the key issue. In. The. Home.
#2- Yes, a woman chasing some career instead of providing a comfortable and structured home for her children is neglecting her duty. Even worse is her husband is being complacent in his children being latchkey kids, or at the mercy of some daycare worker when they could have mom.
#3- Any couple who gets married without studying the impact of finances when kids come into the picture is outright immature and selfish. “oops! didn’t plan that one! quick, honey, get a job! we’s gon be broke!”. Less people should be married as long as this materialistic culture pervades.
#4- perpetual slave? Then what is dad? an indentured servant? Don’t be obtuse. Both fill necessary roles. Not making money is potentially saving money and even more apparent- the environment of the kids’ upbringing is saved. I could care less if mom works during the day when kids are at school. Fine, more power to her. But the reality is most people make more stress for themselves by adding on hours, juggling who takes who where and to what practice, sitter, etc. Dual-income families create so much stress for themselves by chasing materialism’s fruits more often than not.
#5- Of course young couples “struggled”, all couples do. The historical trend is to not marry until established in a career or at least done with university. This offsets the “we love each other and have no idea what real life is!” phenomena we see. Young men also used to live in bachelor quarters or at home until this was accomplished. Now these same young men chase things, large apartments, houses they can barely pay for, etc and then they discover married life is made harder by their failure to plan. And why should they when future-wifey of the Dumb Residence can help augment the income? Can you imagine if people actually thought in a financially sensible manner instead of selfishly? Just imagine. Put on Dave Ramsey in the background, imagine your grandfather’s voice in lieu of Dave, and just imagine… Dave Ramsey, financial guru, gives advice he heard from my grandma. Seriously. Nothing that man says is new. It’s called pre-1960’s smarts.
#6- Golden days? Nah. Life has pretty much sucked since Eve said, “well, if the snake says it so…” and Adam didn’t correct her. What you mean is the days of the pre-me/me/me days when people did things in a sensible and financially sound manner- don’t buy a bunch of stuff on credit, don’t live outside your means, etc.
#7- privileged? The privileged tend to have LESS children and LESS need for costly daycare. Whereas the poor have more kids, and, can’t afford daycare generally. If they do, it’s through a friend or merely a sitter which only takes the place of the mother for a specified time. (
russellsage.org/research/social-inequality/chartbook/income-inequality-households-children/children-by-income). I’m sorry if you are angry that rich people are rich and don’t have to make the same sacrifices as the non-rich. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not more things.
Now, back to your emotional argument…