SmallBizResource Blog -- Women in Business

Wednesday's Woman: Sarah Palin -- The Ultimate Working Mother?

Posted by Gayle Kesten Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008, 03:10 PM ET

While VP potential Sarah Palin could very well become the ultimate example of what working mothers can accomplish, I'd say the following no matter which party she represented: Given what's on her family plate, it's debatable whether even Wonder Woman would be up to the monumental demands of helping to run the country.

In no way do I intend for this post to become a political or sexist discussion, a read-between-the-lines commentary regarding where I stand on the upcoming election or feminism, or anything else that could be construed as judgmental in tone. To each her own. And if there's one thing I know for sure, it's not to speak about topics I don't know enough about (read: politics).

However, I do know what it's like to be a working mother and have a child with special needs. My son's speech, sensory and social issues have brought into our lives a wonderful group of teachers and therapists to whom I'll be forever grateful. Still, the stress of a full-time career -- one in which the worst that could really happen is letting a typo go to print -- while balancing my son's needs was undeniable and, frankly, a few times debilitating. Especially when he was younger. And despite the fact my husband has always been hands-on and was, in fact, out of work for about 15 months when our son began elementary school.

So I question -- sincerely -- how Palin would be able to juggle the vice presidency along with her son's needs, not to mention those of her pregnant 17-year-old's, who is undoubtedly going to need her mom more than ever. Sarah Palin is a human being, not a machine, and with such huge responsibilities, something has to give. Palin's family? The country? Palin herself?

I'll end with this: On one end of the spectrum, Palin could become working mothers' ultimate role model. On the other end, I'm thinking straight jacket and tranquilizers.

What do you think? While you ponder, here are some other thoughts from around the blogosphere:

From Monday's New York Times: "Being a governor is one thing, and Ms. Palin's husband, Todd, seems like a supportive spouse, according to Anne Faircloth, daughter of former Sen. Lauch Faircloth. 'But running for the second-highest office in the land is a very different kettle of fish,' she said.

A counterpoint from that same article: "People who don't have children or who have only one or two are kind of overwhelmed at the notion of five children. I think a hard-working, well-organized CEO type can handle it very well," said Phyllis Schlafly, who raised six children and ran for Congress.

On Feministing.com: "As with all major life choices women make, it's condescending to assume that she somehow hasn't thought this through, or that she hasn't already been doing a demanding job while simultaneously being an attentive mother."

On Blogher.com: "Had Ms. Palin been Mr. Palin, his circumstance no doubt would have endeared him to the electorate. 'Father to five, the youngest of whom has Down syndrome, works exceptionally hard to support his family.' No such consensus for Ms. Palin. The fact that Ms. Palin is a woman brings questions into play that otherwise might even go unremarked; the irony is that it is largely we women who are raising them.

A reader's comment on Working Mother: "I am a working mother who juggles regularly -- but have always had the ability to say 'no' to a trip (or alter its timing) if demands at home dictated it. A Vice President does not have that luxury."

MOMocrats: "John F. Kennedy's son Jack was born just weeks after he took office. But as far as I know, no one criticized him for having a newborn at home."

The Mama Bird Diaries: "I almost had a breakdown in the car today when both my kids were crying and whining at full crescendo as we hit loads of traffic. I'm definitely not cut out for the veep spot. But maybe she is."

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Recent Wednesday's Woman articles:
>> She's So Shy -- Etiquette Consultant Jodi Smith On How to Make Small Talk (Part 1, Part 2)>> Words of Wisdom You Can Really Put to Work >> Just Say No to Yes >> Push Your Senators for Fair Pay >> A $1 Million Business Plan >> Archives

The Wednesday's Woman series is written for today's community of hard-working, small-business women, featuring profiles, industry trends, research, work/life balance issues and other topics of interest. As always, send your ideas to Gayle Kesten.

Women in Business

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