feminist orthodoxy in the government

[KatsuQueen]

"Would it be fair to say that 150 years ago all mothers worked other than those who didn't have to - and those hired nannies?"

Moos, that's my feeling exactly. Women have always "worked".

[womanofdulwich]

Isn't part of the situation due to the fact that a lot of women have received a better education in the last 40 years and so had better jobs that paid better, that in turn meant they could employ some one to look after their children while they went to work and still had some money left after paying for childcare?

Some of those that had a better education and better jobs ( I mean better in that is was more technically/academically skilled this is a personal thing)prefer to still do their money earning jobs to satisfy part of themselves- this is something their mothers were less likely to experience? I speak as one who thought I would have children and stop working - like my mum- but then realized I could do some sort of work and pay childcare and have money left- albeit I had to have 4 years between children to afford the childcare costs; whilst 2 of my old nannies who now have their own families became childminders instead ( especially when they had 2 children 2 years apart).

I blame it in educating women..............

[Huguenot]

I'm not sure that presenteeism, lomng hours and socialising are all-important.

Those activities accrue trust, a perception of commitment and an understanding of your colleagues' approach and attitudes that benefit the company.

People who want to legislate are convinced that they can acccrue or deny these benefits through legislation.

Besides which, many 'European' businesses on the continent demand a culture of work engagement that will see them having dinner at home with theit work colleagues several times a week. These environments are both artificial and highly politicised.