Is Kate Middleton letting women down by quitting her day job?

Not working? Being a royal is a more-than-full time job. She will be making appearances. promoting charities, visiting subjects, etc.

How can she work any kind of ‘normal’ job… as a member (or member-to-be) of the British Royal Family? It’s like expecting an American president’s wife (such as Laura Bush, who actually was a school teacher) to continue being “an ordinary school teacher” with the celebrity status (and Secret Service protection) that automatically accrues to her by virtue of her marriage.

I don’t have to read the article. It’s a silly idea on its face. Not that I’m all that wild about our western cult of celebrity, but the world is what it is.

This mindset pisses me off, bigtime.

I’m thrilled that women can work. I’m thrilled that I can work. However, for those of us that are not only comfortable – but prefer – a traditional role as housewives and mothers, many find it very frustrating that it is something that is looked down upon. I say “many” with only my personal contacts to compare notes with, but we all seem to feel the same way.
I don’t understand why this issue needs to be so black and white. I would fight tooth and nail if someone tried to take away my right to work, and to work in an equal environment. However, I happen to enjoy sewing, cooking, cleaning, taking care of my stepsons – that doesn’t mean that I think every woman should feel the same way. I just don’t think that it should be seen as a negative thing if I choose to do those things instead of the 9–5 routine.

Not at all. I suppose that she is doing what seems right for her. I wish her luck in her marriage and new position.

@tranquilsea Wind your neck in.
She has just taken on a massive “job”.
Back off and give her a chance.

I was a little taken aback by the suggestion that she is somehow letting women down by stepping aside! That’s a lot of pressure!

@lloydbird I am in no way suggesting that I agree with the article. Where did you read in my question that I was? In fact, I agree with almost all the points made thus far.

@tranquilsea Oh, I see! Then we agree.

@lloydbird Good :-)

I read it, and I think it’s bullshit. A world where all women have to work to “send a message” is no better than a world where all women have to be housewives. There’s no such thing as autonomy without choice.

I think the idea that women need to look to one woman to show them what the woman’s movement should mean is more offensive.

The fact that she’s making a choice is perhaps the most powerful message that the woman’s movement is always, at this point, moving forward.

The only time that it might move backwards is when anyone suggests that there is something that a woman “should” do.

On another note – the change Kate Middleton might be able to promote without receiving compensation now in her position as a royal is the most socially responsible action she can make, and I’ll applaud her as she resists any pressure to do anything that she “should” be doing otherwise.

Reluctantly agrees with @iamthemob. :-)

Reluctantly applauds @chyna‘s reluctance. ;-)

@iamthemob and @chyna, come on now enthusiastically endorse one another :-P

Undiluted PC BS.

You know how you’ll know that women have finally reached liberation? When any woman can be/do whatever she wants within the limits of her skills, without being criticized by other women, and without thinking she is letting someone else down.

@iamthemob rocks!~

@chyna – it’s true – but don’t let them all know.

I’d go crazy trying to keep up a job and be a princess at the same time! Her life is going to get really crazy soon. And, who knows, maybe she wants to be a stay-at-home mom.

I’m sorry, I haven’t read the above responses yet because my blood is boiling. Being a stay-at-home mom, this type of mindset really upsets me. It makes me feel as though I’m considered less of a woman because I decided to stay home with the kids. :/

The only person she’s possibly letting down is herself – having the right body parts doesn’t make you a speaker on behalf of an entire gender.

The real thing that the women’s movement in the 60s fought for was the right to choose the path we wanted to take. Anyone who forgets that needs to take a little ride in the Way Back Machine. Her life is about to become far more difficult in so many ways.

Two things
1) Ms Middleton’s career choices are of no concern to anyone but herself.
2) the idea that being married into the parasitical Windsor family in some ways constitutes a job is laughable nonsense.

Having a day job would be a security nightmare. I don’t and never have looked to any person for approval of the paths I chose and choose. I stayed home, too, @jonsblond.

@faye That is another good point: just how many security guards this lady is going to have and how difficult it would be to work with them around.

@jonsblond My sentiments exactly. The same sort of things happen to me about being home schooled. It’s like I’m less of a person because my parents and I chose not to do the normal school system.

I agree with @marinelife, she’s hardly being lazy by giving up her job and besides, it’s got nothing to do with “other women” what she decides to do in order to prepare for a life that is going to change drastically once she says “I do”. I hate this attitude that women should constantly be thinking about “other women” when making decisions about their lives.

Her choices in how she wants to live her life have no effect on me or any other woman who thinks for herself.;)

@meiosis well said honey.

As to the question, she’s about to go join something we should have gotten rid of long, long ago, and to our US cousins, they aren’t quite so cute when you have to pay for them. Goodness, that sounds awfully sharp lol. I don’t mean it to, really i don’t, sorry honeys, but the royal leeches/family bug the hell out of me. When the present queen pops her clogs, it should be seen as a natural break and time to get shot of the lot of them.

We all had our rotas changed at work recently, and a bunch of us (all women) were sitting chatting in the break room about how we’ll work our new hours round life stuff in general and I’d said how lucky we were that we all got liberated lol :-) Actually though we are lucky, although the choice is not as clear cut as it might seem at first glance. None of us in the break room had a choice of whether to work or stay at home, we need to work to pay the bills, simple as that. Does that mean sisters who stay home are worth less because they don’t work outside the home? of course not. Raising children is an incredibly demanding job in itself, and you don’t get 4 weeks holiday and weekends off from it either.
hugglys xx
ps: @marinelife British people have not been “subjects” (subjected to the will of the monarch) for many, many, many years honey. They are figureheads and tolerated but the crown has no actual power, any power they had was removed for very good reason a long time ago. Being called a subject is incredibly insulting, although I know that you didn’t mean it like that <hugs> xx

Being called a subject is incredibly insulting, although I know that you didn’t mean it like that <hugs> xx
I didn’t know that either.
See this is why I like Fluther, we get to learn this sort of thing from each other.
Thanks @bunnygrl for the lesson!

<hugs @wilma tightly> goodness, I just knew my reply could be taken as having sounded sharp, apologies honey, I didn’t mean it to, I’m just so not a royalist is all, lol.
huggles xx

@bunnygrl no your reply didn’t sound sharp at all, I wasn’t being sarcastic. I know what you intended (to be helpful and educate) and I took it that way. :-)
This is why I love Fluther, I get to learn things that I otherwise would be oblivious to. :-)
If only you could see my real smile as I type this there would not be misunderstandings. hugs you back!

@wilma
Aw! Thank you honey <hugs very tightly> you are so sweet.
sending mountains of squeezy hugs your way ((((((((((((@wilma)))))))))))))) xx
ps: I’m smiling ear to ear too :-) <hugs @wilma again just because>