My local newspaper, “The Orlando Sentinel,” published an article about how “time-stressed moms get new options for quick lunches.” The article seemed to blame busy moms for supplying their children with unhealthy meal options. The article was on the front page of the Sunday paper and got me worked up that morning. Why blame the moms?
I took the time to write a letter to the Editor, but it has yet to be published. I must assume, that at nearly two weeks old, it will not run. I realize they have limited space to print letters, but I had hoped they would have recognized their oversight with this article and would have run my letter. Since they have not, I am posting it below.
Interestingly, there are several headlines that seem to be associated with this article:
- In print: “Will healthy box lunches tempt kids?”
- Online: “Prepackaged kids’ lunches get healthier”
- In the title bar of the Internet browser: “Time-stressed moms get new options for quick lunches”
Read the full article here.
Dear Editor:
Sunday’s front page story,” Will healthy box lunches tempt kids,” seemed like a positive read for families who want to feed their children healthy meals. What was most likely well intentioned, quickly became biased toward women by blaming “busy working moms.” The positioning of this article was incredibly disappointing.
The author, Sandra Pedicini, writes, “now, time-stressed moms … are getting other options.” What about time-stressed parents? By ignoring spouses in this story, it leaves the impression that mothers are supposed to do it all — including taking the blame for their families’ meal choices.
This negative focus on mothers keeps working women from getting, or even feeling like they can ask for, additional help. Their career successes are mitigated by this constant reminder of a consequence of working motherhood and somehow lets fathers off the hook. It just perpetuates the stereotype that the mother is responsible for everything.
In section G of the same paper, Gregory Karp wrote an article about couponing and menu planning. He could have geared the article toward mothers, but he used different words: families, Americans, people. This made the difference.
Even the President get this concept. Earlier this year, during the White House Forum on Workplace Flexibility summit, President Barack Obama said, “Workplace flexibility isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s an issue that affects the well-being of our families …” He recognizes that people tend to assume that workplace flexibility is needed for mothers, but says it’s needed by “families.” In that same spirit, we need to focus articles like the one in Sunday’s paper toward families, not just the busy working mom.
- Alicia Lewis Murray, Orlando
What do you think?
(Disclosure: Several years ago, I worked at The Orlando Sentinel.)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Well done! I feel like there’s enough pressure on me to do it all already – I must admit, my husband and I fight mostly about how I feel like I have to do it all (i work as an attorney outside the home) at work AND at home, when he just pretty much comes home and then feels entitled to just sit in front of the TV while I run around doing it all. Wonderfully written response! Thank you!
@Melissa. Thanks for the encouraging words.
Amen, Alicia! No wonder fathers either feel: a) like they can get away without pulling their fair share at home, or b) overlooked when they do, as my husband very capably can.
My DH is my equal partner at home, and I am very conscious of both giving him ample credit, as well as not engaging in husband-bashing in the interest of sisterhood. You point out an excellent challenge in doing so, though, when people look to the moms and assume we are responsible for everything at home…..