Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site burdvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!psuvax1!burdvax!kew
From: kew@burdvax.UUCP (Karen Wieckert)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Neanderthal Man
Message-ID: <1935@burdvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Feb-85 18:41:22 EST
Article-I.D.: burdvax.1935
Posted: Tue Feb 26 18:41:22 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Feb-85 20:24:33 EST
Organization: System Development Corporation, Paoli PA
Lines: 30

Ken Arndt writes:

"What is now forming in this country is a consensus about the place of a woman
in society (the choice of family or work - with the responsibilities and plus
and minus of each choice) and a strong counter argument (counter to the talk
show format - shock the folks and sell the soap) for supporting the 
'traditional' view of the family.  All kinds of people are coming out of the
woodwork in support of 'traditional' values - not just 'religious' people, but
a true 'moral majority'."

It is interesting that there is a consensus about "the place of a woman 
in society".  In 1981, 54 percent of children under 18 had working mothers.
In 1980, 51 percent of families had two wage earners.  Certainly  these  
numbers have not changed significantly in the past 5 years reflecting this 
"majority" to which Arndt refers.  

But then maybe Arndt refers to the "majority" of women in his social sphere.
Could it be that Arndt does not know women who are single-heads of households
or women in families where their income raises the family just above poverty?
Possibly Arndt's sampling is skewed to a white, middle-class "majority".  

But then, even in an admittedly unscientific sampling taken of the NYT 
engagement notices last week, it was found that only one of the women in
the 20 or so notices did not list a career.  

That makes one ask further questions about Arndt.  Yes, we know.  A small
plot of land untouched by the last ice age where the neanderthal man can 
still run free!  :-)

ka:ren