Introduction
In the book Why Can’t I Have What I Want?, the author discusses the fate of women who choose to go through the period of motherhood without a traditional marriage. The thoughts of Rosanna Hertz, the work’s author, are often based on interviews with women who have relevant experience and were able to share it. This essay will analyze the main strengths and weaknesses of the arguments, as well as Herz’s conclusions in her book. A critical analysis of part of the book will identify strengths and draw conclusions on how the author addresses women’s changing priorities in today’s world.
Analysis of the Strong Arguments
Economic Need for Marriage
The author suggests that, over time, women find fewer reasons to marry. Hertz writes that the diminishing economic necessity of marriage allows women to invest more in romanticizing the institution of marriage, which transcends practical considerations (Hertz 317). More simply, women have stopped focusing on finding the person they need to support their lives and have become more focused on their feelings. The author supports this conclusion, as evidenced by her statement that the need for marriage among women has diminished significantly with the advent of financial independence (Hertz 315). This proof highlights changes in the dynamics of marriage in modern times, the significance of which is becoming less significant.
Priority of Motherhood
In addition to marriage, the author also discusses maternity in her book. Hertz argues that those women who have long been focused on their careers can suddenly develop a strong desire for motherhood (Hertz 320). The author suggests that this change of priorities took place against the backdrop that women are aware of the need to decide about motherhood before it becomes physically impossible. Hertz also cited an example of an interview with women devoted to work before deciding to become mothers (Hertz 316). Thus, women’s workaholism can quickly develop into a desire to have a child before it is too late.
Redefinition of Oneself by Women
The author notes that women today have increased their autonomy and access to education and career development. Hertz writes that the importance of marriage for women has become much lower, as it is now possible to find many alternative ways to be realized in the world (Hertz 315). Thus, this factor allows modern women to follow alternative ways to realize their goals and desires. For example, by choosing motherhood without a traditional marriage, a woman can shape her identity without paying attention to the influence of conventional gender roles.
Author’s General Conclusions
Rosanna Hertz concludes that modern women are challenging old social norms that previously defined the place of women in the world. Now they prefer to follow their wishes, setting the conditions for motherhood and marriage (Hertz 320). The Hertz study demonstrates the changing landscape of family values and the overall structure in which women’s freedom of action and autonomy in making decisions about their lives are now most important.
Criticism and Identification of Weaknesses of Arguments
Hertz’s arguments and evidence are convincing and robust enough to be corroborated by interviews with women with experience. These interviews are first-person accounts and support the author’s assertions, in which she highlights socio-cultural developments regarding marriage and motherhood. However, one of the drawbacks is the study’s limited scope, as the author emphasizes the opinions of women who knowingly chose to be single mothers. This focus does not capture the perspectives of all women who have adopted alternative family models. Moreover, the author’s arguments are often based on qualitative data that do not give a complete picture of the consequences that may result from women’s choice of autonomy.
Another weakness is that the book lacks the views of other stakeholders on the subject. Although the work describes the experiences and motivations of women who stand alone, the story does not include the comments of children who have grown up in such family structures. Thus, the effectiveness and benefits of a woman’s choice of single motherhood cannot be ascertained, as it is unknown how such actions affect children. The overall positive image of the book can be enhanced by the author’s emphasis on providing more accurate results with a long-term perspective. In this way, there may be challenges that both children and mothers may face in non-traditional settings.
Conclusion
Finally, Why Can’t I Have What I Want? by Rosanna Hertz is a challenge to the conventional family and traditional family structure. This work gives an idea of the motives of women who have chosen the path of single motherhood and not marriage, and describes the experiences of these women. The article highlights the current role of marriage, which is constantly changing, and the priority of motherhood and self-realization in modern society. Despite this, the author does not provide a long-term analysis of the situation, and it is impossible to say precisely about the consequences of the conditions described by Hertz, but the analysis does provide a valuable perspective for women.
Work Cited
Hertz, Rosanna. “Why Can’t I Have What I Want?” Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice: How Women Are Choosing Parenthood Without Marriage and Creating the New American Family, Oxford University Press, 2008, pp. 314–320.