THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505180003
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
``Mother's Day'' - what a farce! One day each year of forced ``honor'' does not make up for the years of inequality, unfair treatment, hardship and disrespect we mothers must endure.
As a single mother of two children (my husband left me), I am living at the poverty level, struggling every day to maintain a secure, happy environment for my children.
The idea of ``Mother's Day'' makes me sick! This society and economy does absolutely nothing to help mothers who must work to support their children.
Whether a woman makes $10,000 or $100,000 a year, ``quality'' day care costs the same. Women, even after decades of protest and consciousness-raising, still earn far less than men, even if they have a college degree.
If single mothers are lucky enough, they may get a much-begrudged ``support'' check from their children's fathers while bearing 95 percent of the child-rearing, disciplining and decision-making alone.
Even those women who are ``fortunate'' enough to be raising their children with their husbands are often expected by society and their husbands to work full-time jobs, care for the children and cook and clean on top of it all!
Women are as oppressed as ever - maybe even more so these days. The majority of people living below the poverty level are women, and, more often than not, the children are right there with their mothers, living in poverty. This shows the real value our society places on women and motherhood and, ultimately, children.
As we mothers suffer and struggle, so do our children. As our children suffer, so does the future of our nation. One day a year of false ``appreciation'' for motherhood does nothing but keep card and floral companies in business. To me, the idea of Mother's Day means nothing.
MARY JO HALLETT
Virginia Beach, May 12, 1995 by CNB