The Opt-Out Myth

if journalism repeatedly frames the wrong problem, then the folks who make public policy may very well deliver the wrong solution. If women are happily choosing to stay home with their babies, that's a private decision. But it's a public policy issue if most women (and men) need to work to support their families, and if the economy needs women's skills to remain competitive. It's a public policy issue if schools, jobs, and other American institutions are ... Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala
Tags Help
Subjects: Media
Member Tags: media myths, work, opt-out women employment NYT, women's movement, lifecycles, lifestyles
Editorial Help

To:


Separate email addresses with commas.
25 recipients max.

Note:

Reviews

Show All | Notes | Comments | Quotes | Links
Silhouette_sml
4.6
by Rory O'Connor - Mar. 16, 2007

An in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the "Opt-Out Myth" ("Why don’t more women get to the top? They choose not to." ) pushed incessantly by the media for literally decades. On a meta-level, this also piece makes a great NewsTrust point, one that is quite relevant to many other areas of disscussion: "if journalism repeatedly frames the wrong problem, then the folks who make public policy may very well deliver the wrong solution." “Opt Out or Pushed Out?” should be on every ... More »

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Fabportrait_smallsquare_180x180_thumb
3.8
by Fabrice Florin - Mar. 16, 2007

Thoughtful analysis on the media coverage of the "moms-go-home" story, which points out possible flaws in the way this story is currently reported.

See Full Review » (11 answers)
Silhouette_sml
3.9
by Rebecca Hale - Mar. 20, 2007

This research has depth and tracks research following "women's issues" for a number of recent years. The most important point I take away from the article/research, and also other reviews, is that the story is not just about women, or white women, or wealthy women, or women with husbands and options. It affects the entire economy. which includes fathers, other children, neighbors, employers. I know that different women are called in different strengths, for vocation and lifestyle. at ... More »

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Silhouette_sml
3.5
by Nick Pollitt - Mar. 16, 2007
See Full Review » (1 answer)
Member_photo_thumb
4.0
by Kaizar Campwala - Mar. 16, 2007
See Full Review » (1 answer)
N628474479_7734_thumb
4.5
by Joel Kulenkamp - Mar. 16, 2007

Noteworthy analysis; however, would've liked to heard soem male expertise to confirm this

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Silhouette_sml
4.0
by Bob McInnis - Mar. 16, 2007

Fine analysis of the consumer culture and the need to create spending power to support the rise in consumption.

See Full Review » (13 answers)
Silhouette_sml
5.0
by Alexia Katz - Mar. 17, 2007
See Full Review » (6 answers)
Silhouette_sml
4.4
by William D. Walsh - Mar. 17, 2007
See Full Review » (6 answers)
Silhouette_sml
1.8
by Greg Kopczynski - Mar. 18, 2007

This story was a real disappointment. Statistics are used very selectively (deceptively so) to suggest that this is a discrimination against women, when in fact it better reflects discrimination against *families*. There are also many logical flaws in the author's arguments. Apparently the only form of "opt-out" that is legitimate in the author's eyes is a case in which the employer wil give the woman anything and everything she desires to remain, but the woman nonetheless leaves. ... More »

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Silhouette_sml
4.7
by Jami Dwyer - Mar. 18, 2007

Great article. Roundly debunks the fluffy media hype notion that feminism is over and the average women now "chooses" to stay home with the kids, with no negative consequences.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Silhouette_sml
5.0
by Katherine Friedrich - Mar. 18, 2007
See Full Review » (1 answer)

Comments on this story Help (BETA)

NT Rating | My Rating

Ratings

4.1

Good
from 12 reviews (50% confidence)
Quality
4.1
Facts
4.0
Fairness
3.7
Information
4.3
Sourcing
4.2
Style
4.5
Accuracy
4.0
Balance
4.0
Context
4.1
Popularity
3.8
Recommendation
4.0
Credibility
4.0
# Reviews
5.0
# Views
5.0
# Likes
1.0
# Emails
1.0
More
How our ratings work »
(See these related stories.)

Links Help

No links yet. Please review this story to add some!