The Conversation Slaughter Engages In
In recent discussions of gender equality, such as in “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All” by Anne-Marie Slaughter, a controversial issue has been whether leaders promoting feminist values should also address the challenges they face in balancing work and personal life.
Identifying the “They Say” and Slaughter’s Perspective
On the one hand, some argue that female leaders should prioritize promoting positive feminist values in conversations with other women, avoiding consideration of negative aspects in career advancement for women. From this perspective, female leaders’ acknowledgment that women have more challenges in balancing work and personal life can discourage other women from trying to succeed in a highly competitive environment with men. On the other hand, however, others argue that acknowledging the challenges will make women’s expectations about work-life balance more realistic and provide them with the necessary support to stay motivated in achieving their goals.
Slaughter’s Central Claim
In the words of Anne-Marie Slaughter, one of this view’s main proponents, saying that “you can have it all” is “simply airbrushing reality” (Slaughter 538). According to this view, the stories of women’s hardships are equally important to the stories of their success for strengthening the values of feminism.
Key Critique Presented in the Essay
Firstly, considering the view Slaughter opposes in her essay, the author admits that in this problem, she has the experience of being on both sides of the argument. Therefore, in defining what ‘they say,’ referring to her peers and associates, Slaughter also questions the opinion of her past self.
The author’s general claim is that the widespread idea that women can have it all is sourced from the determination “not to drop the flag for the next generation” (Slaughter 537). In other words, the author does not blame the previous generation for creating distorted expectations about work-life balance for young women but asserts their role in limiting women’s motivation and inspiration. The most important critique that Slaughter offers in her essay, using examples from her experience, is that modern society limits women’s opportunities to have everything.
Thus, the author asserts that there are many specific types of professions, such as government work, where women cannot have a healthy work-life balance due to excessive work (Slaughter 539). Furthermore, the author reminds readers that very few women have enough opportunities to pursue high-profile careers in the modern world. Lastly, the author argues that the distinction between women’s true self and their professional identities, which is absent in men, complicates women’s career advancement.
Personal Evaluation of Slaughter’s Claims and Evidence
My view on the problem is that women should have the opportunity to construct realistic expectations about work-life balance from other women’s experiences. Though I concede that this approach can discourage many young women just starting their career journey, I still maintain that it supports feminist values in promoting cooperation, honesty, and respect in communication between women. However, by focusing on the internal obstacles to women’s success, such as their desire to spend more time with children, Slaughter overlooks the deeper problem of gender discrimination in the workplace. The issue is important because it defines the next generation’s approach to motivation in women.
Work Cited
Slaughter, A. M. “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All.” They Say/ I Say (With Readings), edited by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, 4th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2018, pp. 534-554.