Men and women of RL: a survey

[Endomorphian]

Discussions about income disparity between men and women in Europe or North America (sans las naciones de las personas latinas where material circumstances are different) typically require an acute, even comprehensive analysis about all the forces prior to one's entrance into the labor market to see the real bread and butter. Raw discrimination that contradicts the principle of equal pay for equal work still present women with issues in particular occupations, but more important to the debate nowadays are choice in profession and unfair promotion tactics. Unmarried women make roughly the same amount of money as their male coworkers(1 (http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2008.pdf)), but mothers suffer from an indiscreet double standard.

The issue is systematic. Employers are fearful about sitcom motherhood. I will take this opportunity to say I believe women (or men) who elect to stay at home need not be shamed if their significant other actively wants that option as well and, in my view, if there is a presentable cause: a sick relative, a child in need of homeschooling, etc. Salaried employment is not so important to these (typically upper-middle class) women (or men, but this is less the norm).

These standards do affect ambitious, business-savvy females. In some circumstances, it's exhausting for these ladies to even prove themselves on par with male competition.. It's not fair to them (nor efficient). It's also not fair to the men who are viewed as overqualified, freaks, or pedophiles for electing 'pink-collared' employment.

On this note, I want to ask some questions. Some of them won't apply to our homosexual and transgendered friends on the forum:

1) What sex do you identify as?
2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I'll answer, why not?


1) What sex do you identify as?

Male, although not necessarily "masculine".


2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

Yes.


3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

If my workload isn't too high and I feel I can do it properly, yes.


4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

Yes, why not? If that's what they want to do.


5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

It depends on what you mean by "a source of income". Obviously it's irresponsible not to have any money coming in when one can obtain it, but I don't think the source of income should necessarily be a traditional job.

[Mendax]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Male
2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Yup.
3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
No - I'd be terrible.
4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
I proberly wouldn't have a problem with this.
5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
Severe handicapness? I'm pretty sure that aslong as your capable you should try to pursue an income to support your family, how you make that income however is up to you, just try not to get locked up...

[Il Medico]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Male.

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Don't know. If I don't have too, I won't. (have regular employment that is)

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
Possibly, but I don't really plans on having kids, so....

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Why not?

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
The question is not whether it is acceptable or not for a person to not seek gainful employment (regardless of whether they are or aren't a parent), but rather if it is do able.

Also, why did you say this wouldn't apply to Homosexuals or Transgendered/transsexuals?

[gorillafuck]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Male.


2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Yes.


3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
I'm not going to make plans on whether me and my future wife/partner will have enough time to homeschool a child. But if it is possible then definitely not at a young age (he/she would never learn social skills), but I'd be fine with my kid withdrawing and getting a GED when they are a teenager.


4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Yeah, sure.


5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
It's too difficult to answer when it's "acceptable" or "unacceptable", but if you are in need an income and you are capable of getting one it would be insane not to.

[Foldered]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Male


2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Yes.


3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
Yes.


4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Yes, there is a strong tendency in Western society (and many other societies) to devalue domestic labour because it does not generate capital. I am against this devaluation; it would be silly of me not to be in a relationship with someone who wanted to be a "stay-at-home."


5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
I don't understand this question. I would prefer "income" to be nonexistent.

[MarxSchmarx]

1) What sex do you identify as?
2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

1. Male No suprise there I suppose.
2. Yes and ideally beyond reitrement.
3. Yes I would consider it.
4. Yes.
5. When there is sufficient income by the other spouse.

[Jimmie Higgins]

1) What sex do you identify as? Male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?Plan? Well I think I will have to.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?No way.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?Why not? If they are ok living in the level of poverty I can provide for them.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?If I was independantly wealthy (or my partner) and didn't need the income I would have no problem not having a job.

[counterblast]

Discussions about income disparity between men and women in Europe or North America (sans las naciones de las personas latinas where material circumstances are different) typically require an acute, even comprehensive analysis about all the forces prior to one's entrance into the labor market to see the real bread and butter. Raw discrimination that contradicts the principle of equal pay for equal work still present women with issues in particular occupations, but more important to the debate nowadays are choice in profession and unfair promotion tactics. Unmarried women make roughly the same amount of money as their male coworkers(1 (http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2008.pdf)), but mothers suffer from an indiscreet double standard.

The issue is systematic. Employers are fearful about sitcom motherhood. I will take this opportunity to say I believe women (or men) who elect to stay at home need not be shamed if their significant other actively wants that option as well and, in my view, if there is a presentable cause: a sick relative, a child in need of homeschooling, etc. Salaried employment is not so important to these (typically upper-middle class) women (or men, but this is less the norm).

These standards do affect ambitious, business-savvy females. In some circumstances, it's exhausting for these ladies to even prove themselves on par with male competition.. It's not fair to them (nor efficient). It's also not fair to the men who are viewed as overqualified, freaks, or pedophiles for electing 'pink-collared' employment.

On this note, I want to ask some questions. Some of them won't apply to our homosexual and transgendered friends on the forum:





1) What sex do you identify as?
Mostly female.

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Yes.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
Yes. I would prefer unschooling or something similar.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Yes.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
All situations, except if it compromises the care or well-being of their child(ren).

[Endomorphian]

Also, why did you say this wouldn't apply to Homosexuals or Transgendered/transsexuals?

Some states try to stamp out adoption by homosexual and transgendered parents.

[Sentinel]

1) What sex do you identify as? -- Male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)? -- Yes.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)? -- No, I'm pretty sure they'd get better schooling elsewhere.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad? -- No, and I'm a bit baffled at the multitude of yes answers here. I just couldn't respect someone sitting on their ass being a 'homedad' (or mom, if I was straight) while I had to work. That's bullshit.

At least that's how I would feel when I left the apartment in the morning and heard the family snoring in their beds, none the less, and the relationship would have a very bad prognosis.

You have to be able to respect the person you live with, and in this case I'd have problems with that. In countries where the possibility exists to put the kids in day care so that both parents can work to get an extra income, it's really just silly and pointless in my honest opinion.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income? -- I'm not one to judge others and say what is acceptable for them. If people are happy with their partners being 'homedads' or 'homemoms', fine. But personally I'd expect a partner I shared household with to work unless they were ill -- regardless if we had kids or not.

My main objection to this phenomenon, though, is political. If the society was equal it might be completely different, but at present it's always the woman who gets the 'honour' of being the stay-home parent, sacrificing all her personal ambitions and chances to do something with her life (to the extent this is possible given the system we live under) and become something more than a mother. And I just can't shake off that nagging feeling that some form of coercion might be involved..

In the past kids used to be an obstacle by default for working class women with personal ambitions. Now that they necessarily don't constitute one anymore (in certain countries) I can't fathom why someone would volunteer to take that step backwards.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

1) What sex do you identify as?

I identify as male.

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

My ideal situation would involve me working from home. I'd do something like writing, e-business, or a combination of the two. Realistically, I suspect I will work outside of my home until retirement. So I suppose "Yes" would be the best answer.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

I don't see myself having children, but I would not consider homeschooling. I would send any children I have to private school.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

Since I don't want children, it's unlikely. Even if I did, it's unlikely. I don't think I would get along with the type of person who would have this goal.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

It's acceptable in any circumstance where the long-term life satisfaction of the parent is in jeopardy. I don't think people are obligated to live dissatisfied lives out of responsibility for others. They should live satisfied lives by feeling good about taking care of responsibilities, but this doesn't always happen. For more clear answers:

1. Severe mental or physical illness. The Internet makes even a moderate income possible for most people so it would have to be a severe situation.
2. They are staying at home with children because it is for the best.
3. Their partner is perfectly happy if they don't work, as are they.
4. Available means of employment are all detrimental to society in significant ways.

Really, there are so many cases.

[soyonstout]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
No way of knowing--I would love not to if I had the chance

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
I'd consider it, but I think I'd prefer sending them to school b/c I think they might be better socialized that way (but who knows?)

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
I wouldn't mind being a stay-at-home Dad, and I totally understand if a partner would want to be a stay-at-home mom--I just don't think we'd ever afford it unless I marry rich.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
In any situation in which they don't want to and don't have to, provided their co-parent (if there is one) agrees with this and they can work out some kind of system that feels equal to both. I think the whole thing about women joining the workforce being empowering is a load of shit, frankly--most women, scratch that, most people started going to work because they had to.Doing anything as repetitive & obedient as most kinds of wage-labor for 8 hours a day is boring, stultifying, alienating, degrading, and awful. Sure women should be able to do everything men can do, but the fact that 80 hrs. labor is required to feed 4 people when 40 hrs used to feed 5 means that the working class' living standard has been cut in half, which is not empowering in any real sense at all.

I also agree that women face discrimination and worse pay and employers fearing that they will not be as attached to their jobs, etc.--that is perhaps something I don't take into account in the above as well as I could. Still I think people make choices for all kinds of reasons within their economic limits. If I was able to live well enough working less I would try to go for it, but everybody's not like that I guess.

[Hit The North]

1) What sex do you identify as?

Male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

No, working from home is best - further away from the boss as possible.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

No, because the key lesson from schooling is sociability. But I'd like to design my own school with fellow radicals in the area. But home should be a school of another kind. In the communes of the future, the barrier between home and school will be dissolved in a similar fashion to the barriers between work and leisure.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

Yeah, why not?

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

In the situation of resisting wage slavery.

[Mumbles]

1) What sex do you identify as?

I indentify as male and am straight, but don't necessarily do masculine things.

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

Yes, very much so.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

If I were planning on having kids, I would say no. I don't like the idea of them having very limited social interaction and I believe that I would be indoctrinating them even if I didn't mean to. If they went to a regular school and came home so that I could talk to them about life stuff then I wouldn't feel like I was indoctrinating them because they had gotten the other views at school.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-
at-home mom or dad?

I don't plan on getting married since close relationships don't bring me pleasure, but if I were, then no. I don't think anyone should ride off another person unless they have no other choice.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

Either they are handicapped to the point of not being able to, or their offspring are handicapped and have to have constant attention.

[bcbm]

I just couldn't respect someone sitting on their ass being a 'homedad' (or mom, if I was straight) while I had to work. That's bullshit.

exactly! all that cleaning, cooking, laundry, child care, shopping, etc is a definitely a pretty cushy existence. domestic labor isn't real work (http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:410dco25GesJ:nefac.net/node/1247).

[Sentinel]

exactly! all that cleaning, cooking, laundry, child care, shopping, etc is a definitely a pretty cushy existence.

If piled to one person it no doubt can be a pain in the ass -- in a big family. That's why it's so damn smart to share it equally between the family after work/school so that both parents can bring in an income and also, even fulfill their own ambitions.

In a small, regular one or two kids family I really wouldn't mind it compared to sucking up to my boss day after day and sitting at the counter selling booze (and my soul) -- if my conscience would allow it, that is.

Really, in my opinion the homemom-dad system is not only unfair to the only person who goes to work and pays all the bills, it's also degrading (rather than, in most cases, too hard work) towards the person who is being reduced to a parent/housekeeper without an income of their own and financially dependant of their partner.

I do understand that this is insensitive to say and constitutes 'stepping on people's toes', -- but this is how it is, as I see it.

[cska]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Uhhm. I believe certain body parts would indicate that I am male.

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Maybe. Too early to say.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
Definitely.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Yes.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
I think it is always okay if someone can and does decide to not pursue a source of income. In a communist society though, I think the public should expect other people to be productive workers in society (this doesn't mean you have to work as much as 40 hours a week, but you should work enough to justify your lifestyle), though taking care of children is also a very productive task.

[bcbm]

even fulfill their own ambitions. In a small, regular two kids one I really wouldn't mind it compared to sucking up to my boss day after day and sitting at the counter selling booze (and my soul)so you want everyone to get out there and fulfill their own ambitions... by sucking up to their own boss day after day, etc?

i think you underestimate the amount of work even a "regular" household produces in terms of domestic labor, especially if children are involved. i certainly wouldn't call it "sitting around on their asses," in any case and i don't think putting your argument in quasi-empowering terms makes that phrase any less insulting.



Really, in my opinion the homemom-dad system is not only unfair to the only person who goes to work and pays all the bills, it's also degrading (rather than, in most cases, too hard work) towards the person who is being reduced to a parent/housekeeper without an income of their own and financially dependant of their partner.reduced to? some people choose to stay at home, you know.

and yeah, let's heap more social stigma on to labor that is already marginalized and disregarded.

[Sentinel]

so you want everyone to get out there and fulfill their own ambitions... by sucking up to their own boss day after day, etc?

No, but unless they are luckier than I, with the money they get from the wage-slaving, perhaps. If they save for their whole lives. The point is that they'd be independent rather than dependent of another person, usually, husband.


i think you underestimate the amount of work even a "regular" household produces in terms of domestic labor, especially if children are involved.

Well, I think I have a basic grasp. I don't have kids of my own yet, admittedly, but I've been one, a terrible one, not too long ago.


i certainly wouldn't call it "sitting around on their asses," in any case and i don't think putting your argument in quasi-empowering terms makes that phrase any less insulting.

Quasi-empowering.. I'd say that the first step of empowering themselves for women, or anyone, is to get an income of their own.

But yeah, I guess it's time I just apologise to all home-moms and dads for the sitting on their ass -comment. It was insensitive, even though I withhold that I could not help seeing my partner being home with our kids as that, and quite probably would use that exact phrase to trigger our divorce. :(

[bcbm]

No, but unless they are luckier than I, with the money they get from the wage-slaving, perhaps. If they save for their whole lives. The point is that they'd be independent rather than dependent of another person, usually, husband.

well as you said earlier, its damn smart to share equally and so i don't think one person working for a wage and another not should be undertaken as an independent/dependent structure, but something that both parties have agreed on and support each other in.


Quasi-empowering.. I'd say that the first step of empowering themselves for women, or anyone, is to get an income of their own.

you sound like a liberal. ;)

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

I partially agree with Sentinel on the staying at home comment. The children end up in school, and it isn't that difficult to keep things under control if you're efficient. I can't see it as very satisfying.

However, I just thought of an interesting point. The stay-at-home parent is sometimes criticized as not contributing to society. They are improving the ability for their spouse and children to contribute. It may seem insignificant, but it happens all the time. Doctors don't produce value by themselves, most of the time. They matter because of what they do in relation to others. Firefighters, nurses, the list goes on and on.

So I guess my conclusion is I can't understand how some could be satisfied with the contribution staying at home makes. It just isn't that helpful once the kids in in school. Shopping is quick. Economically, it's more reasonable for most people to hire help anyway. The list goes on and on.

[Sentinel]

i don't think one person working for a wage and another not should be undertaken as an independent/dependent structure, but something that both parties have agreed on and support each other in.

Yes, but the thing is that I think it is by default a dependancy-based relationship. It's how women have always been made dependent of the men, it's how it was (and in many places still is) justified that they had no rights in society. Of course, people can agree on being dependent of another person and be happy about it -- we are all different.

But you can't really get around the fact that one person has more power the other (controlling the money).

***

I would just like to one more time stress the point, in case I wasn't clear enough in my last post, that the last thing I want is to sound demeaning to anyone in that position. Especially not towards all women that were as young in one way or another coerced into believing that it's the natural choice for them to stay at home and take care of the kids, many of them regretting it in retrospect but stuck in the situation. Trapped by patriarchy.

But I'm afraid there really is no way to put my position without it being, well, insulting to some. This is a sensitive issue.

What I oppose is this being encouraged as a valid model today. Everyone has the right to an independent life of their own even if they choose to procreate, and nobody needs or should stay at home as a 'fulltime parent' when there are options.

Without an income of their own a person is stuck in a dependancy that practically deprives them of personal autonomy. I could personally never live like that, as even if the idea of not going to work might look nice at first glance, I'd feel totally deprived of my personal freedom.

If two people choose this way of life, fine by me. But society should not encourage it, kids should not learn at school that mom stays at home and dad goes to work, as they did in the fifties. All that stuff is a big no-no if we want an equal society.

Over and out.

[bcbm]

i don't think encouraging people to work soul-draining jobs to make ends meet and ship the kids off to day care (a soul draining job for someone else, no doubt, to say nothing of how the kids must feel) is a better solution.

[cska]

So I guess my conclusion is I can't understand how some could be satisfied with the contribution staying at home makes. It just isn't that helpful once the kids in in school. Shopping is quick. Economically, it's more reasonable for most people to hire help anyway. The list goes on and on.

That is because the kids are sent to suffer in a public day care center for over half the day. Public school shouldn't last as long as a full time job. Thus, you would need one of the parents to work only part time.

[Sentinel]

i don't think encouraging people to work soul-draining jobs to make ends meet and ship the kids off to day care (a soul draining job for someone else, no doubt, to say nothing of how the kids must feel) is a better solution.

That can be a matter of opinion, but I still think that we should encourage autonomy and independence rather than dependency of a partner. Capitalism is shit, but there's no need to make life even shitter by giving up your economic independancy on a private level as well.

Now I'm going to sleep. :p

[bcbm]

That can be a matter of opinion, but I still think that we should encourage autonomy and independence rather than dependency of a partner. Capitalism is shit, but there's no need to make life even shitter by giving up your economic independancy on a private level as well.

your attitude sounds a lot like the dominant one- you're on your own, struggling to exist individually and have to completely support yourself. i think we should practice mutual aid and encourage cooperation as much as possible and learn to struggle together.


Now I'm going to sleep. :p

good night!:)

[Red North]

1) What sex do you identify as?
A look downwards is telling me definatly male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Yes, I would get bored being at home all the time

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
No, I want my kids to have a healthy social life.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Ya, I'm not gonna argue with what my future wife wants to do with her life, that's her choice, doesn't matter to me any.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
Only if theres no other way for the kids to be taken care of or the income is simply not needed.

[Bitter Ashes]

1) What sex do you identify as? female
2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)? Pretty much. Yes.
3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)? It'd be a joint descion, but I'd be in favour of at least some schooling taking place at home
4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad? No
5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?Until thier children are of school age

[Jazzratt]

1) What sex do you identify as? Male. Mostly.
2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)? Plan or no I'm chronically unemployed. But yes; when I do get a job I'll hold on to it like a drowning man.
3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)? Fuck no. No matter how much myself and a theoretical partner know we'd never be as qualified as a school full of people trained specifically for teaching. It's dissapointing to see so many "leftists" wanting to turn their sprogs into homeschooled lackwits. That said I don't find anything wrong with supplementing learning at home.
4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad? Sure, as long as income and benefits makes such an arrangement feasible.
5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income? That's a difficult one. Whenever circumstances mean it isn't necessary, I guess.

[Salabra]

1) What sex do you identify as?

Proudly, defiantly, happily, female!


2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

I would love to — but my condition makes it difficult


3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

Well, on the one hand, I am a teacher, but on the other, my field is within the Humanities — I find it difficult to balance my chequebook, so teaching children the rudiments (not to mention the more rarefied aspects) of differential calculus would be somewhat beyond me!


4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

You really should ask my partner that, since she may soon be the one supporting me.

Would I do the same for her? Yes, because after ten years, I still love her as much as the day I met her.


5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

What a strange question — you sound like a sociology student in the throes of devising your first survey. The question is not whether it is acceptable not to “pursue a source of income” but whether it is at all possible in the given couple’s particular circumstances.

[syndicat]

1) What sex do you identify as?
male


2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
yes but in more recent years have been able to do writing at home.


3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
no


4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
would prefer not.


5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
if jobs that would be accessible are miserable and the other partner has enough income for both.

[Endomorphian]

you sound like a sociology student in the throes of devising your first survey.

I actually find sociology to be one of the least fascinating of the social sciences.

[Raúl Duke]

1) What sex do you identify as?

Male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

Yes

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

No, not really

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

I doubt it, nope.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

IDK, there's are some. But don't want to list them now.

[Quail]

1) What sex do you identify as?

Female

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

I plan to because I don't really have a choice.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

No, I think that children need to mix with others to develop their social skills.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

As long as they did the housework, etc. Although I do think that, at least until a child goes to school, it's best to be around and give them attention and encouragement if possible. When I was younger my mum stayed at home to look after my brother and I but when we went to school she got bored of staying at home and got a job.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

If their child is below school age, it isn't always easy to get a job, especially if the parent is alone for whatever reason. Benefits might not be an ideal situation either, but at least they would allow for the child to get care from its parent(s).

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

1) What sex do you identify as?
I identify as a woman

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
No, I'm an artist and I can do that in my place. Maybe I'll keep myself insidefor 31 days on end like Salvador Dali

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
Yes.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Hey! I'm the house wife!

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
Whenever both of the partners in the couple consent to that.

[Vanguard1917]

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

No, because the key lesson from schooling is sociability.

That's right. I'm suprised that more people haven't pointed this out.

[Ocean Seal]

1) What sex do you identify as?
Male


2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?
Yes


3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?
No, I probably wouldn't be a very good teacher/ wouldn't have the time.


4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?
Absolutely, men or women who stay at home shouldn't be demoralized. If there is enough for both of us and she would like to do work at home then I would have no problem with it.


5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?
If the children are a handful or there are other things to take care of while at the same time one person's income can cover both of them, then it is alright to not pursue a source in income.

[leftace53]

1) What sex do you identify as?

Female

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

I guess so, I would hope not because I quite like being at home and hate commutes.

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

Children are not a prospect, but I'm not a fan of homeschooling.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

I can't see myself in a long term relationship, and children are not a prospect, but if they wanted to be a stay at home person doing housework and such, I wouldn't mind.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

When they talk it over with the other half of the couple, and both deem it to be feasible from a family perspective.

[Animal Farm Pig]

I'm a man and I plan on working until I die.

I certainly wouldn't send my children to US public (government) schools. Why would I want them indoctrinated in the ideology of the ruling class? I am lucky enough to have comrades who are running private ("public" for the UK comrades) schools where I could send my kids. If that weren't the case, it would need to be "home schooling" (not necessarily confined to the home). As far as socialization goes, it seems totally unnatural to me to isolate kids in school classrooms with only people of the same age. It seems better to me to socialize the kids around people of all ages (including adults).

When my ex-wife and I moved to the USA, our income in previous years was too low to get a proper visa for her. So, she was unable to legally work. We made a family budget with necessary expenses (rent, car payment, bills, etc.), food, common expenses (things for the house, experiences together, anything we shared), and an equal amount of pocket money for both of us. My salary went into a bank account for which we both had debit cards, and we trusted one another to keep our budget. While I was at work, she was building furniture for the house, making clothing, making art, and volunteering with local organizations. If she happened to sell some art or clothing or furniture, the money went to our common expenses budget. Other marital issues aside, this system worked pretty well. If we had decided to move to her home country, we could have used the same system just with roles reversed.

I think it's acceptable for either partner to not have a monetary income so long as he or she is actually doing something. If I were married to someone who didn't want to work and just sat around on her ass, that would be unacceptable. Otherwise, job or no job, as long as we're not starving it's fine with me. I would also expect my partner to be capable of generating income for the family if, for some reason, I were unable to or if I simply wanted to do something else for a while.

[praxis1966]

1) What sex do you identify as?

Male

2) Do you plan to work outside of your home until retirement (exclude small breaks, illness, unemployment, paternity/maternity leave, etc.)?

Yes

3) Would you ever consider homeschooling (if children are a prospect)?

No. I believe that the socialization aspects involved with going to school outside the home are beneficial to a child's psycho-emotional development. Besides, my girlfriend is a social worker and I plan on teaching in a public school, so it's not like we could afford to live solely on either one of those incomes should we choose to have children.

4) Would you have a long-term relationship with someone who wants to be a stay-at-home mom or dad?

No. I believe relationships generally only benefit from each party having a life and source of intellectual stimulation outside of said relationship.

5) In what situations do you think it's acceptable for a mother or father to not pursue a source of income?

Prohibitive disability. Then again, in the US, the SSA does give income to the disabled, so that's not really an excuse either.