In The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars: Who Decides What Makes a Good Mother? Miriam Peskowitz presents a well written and thoughtful novel. Peskowitz combines her multifaceted skill from being a counselor, historian, professor, musician, as well as being a mother of two girls.
Peskowitz addresses the range of different types of mothers; stay at home moms, moms who work part-time, work at home moms, and all other sequences of mother arrangements. She utilizes various media sources including Dr. Phil documentaries to the New York Times magazine. There is the overriding theme based ideological and economic principles of mother arrangements. Peskowitz contends that there is no division of the relationship between working mothers and those who are stay at home moms.
Interestingly, one in three mothers across America work part-time and are in the middle of the gap between stay at home mums and the full-time career mother. Peskowitz links this emerging trend to the view of mothers who aim not to fight options, but want more options to be flexible. The choices of mothers are addressed in relation to the strains that the corporate climate in America imposes on women to strive for either a career or a family. The novel presents various questions regarding the choices of adjusting careers, movement within and out of the workplace as well as minimal choices to work.
Peskowitz argues that the world of work is synonymous with being a mother, although of varying natures. There is mention of the increasing trends in society such as the retirement of the baby boomers as well as the differing dynamics of American society.
Peskowitz also presents the feminist ideology of defining engaged and dedicated parents as productive workers in society. Peskowitz fills the void and shows coherent understanding of the distinctions between choice and availability between working and mothering options.
Overall, Peskowitz includes detail research and factual evidence using statistics, case studies, anecdotes, examples and not to mention her own personal experiences as a mom. Her overview is realistic and is a must read for mothers and generally anyone in business. The read is comprehensive covering stereotypes, media and marketing and political manipulation. This issues are explored in relation to women’s personal choices, including ‘opting out’, and how options are limited by corporate companies, culture and the pressure of a being a dedicated parent.
All in all, Peskowitz looks at the role feminists play in these concepts and particularly motherhood. There is no critical criticism, personal stories and over simplification of the core issues, making this novel a good read.
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