Much has been said about
Governor Sarah Palin having her kids at work. Even when dads help out - and they do help out much more than they did fifty years ago - women are still in charge of taking care of their kids even when they may be holding full-time jobs.
Although many women would love to change corporate rules and have the flexibility of working part time, doing work from home, or bringing their child to work, the reality is that these women may not have a chance to aspire to move up the ladder. The big question is should they have a chance to compete at a very high level if their productivity and performance are the same as their male counterparts?
Here, some questions:
If a job is designed as a full-time job and a man works sixty hours a week while his female colleague works forty: he produces more than she does, do you feel it is fair for him to get the promotion over her?
What is the difference between a very effective executive woman bringing her child to work and splitting her attention between doing her work and being distracted by having her kid at work in contrast with a very effective executive male doing his job while being distracted watching a football game at the office while he's working?
Do you feel a childless executive woman should volunteer to travel so that her colleague with kids can do the same job locally without travel?
Do you feel the rules of the game should change at work so that women can be chosen for leadership positions or do you think both men and women should compete in a fair game and let the best win?
