Summary: The Joys Of Parenthood

The vast restructuring of family life through political and economic shifts have caused a rising ambiguity whether raising a child is worth the devotion and commitment. Although some assert that parenthood provides emotional stability and personal fulfillment, the economic and emotional baggage that parents accrue is overwhelming. Robin Simon dispels the myths of the idealization of parenthood within her article, “The Joys of Parenthood, Reconsidered” and argues that the entrenched romanticized image of raising a child severely damages and pressures parents to glorify children as a step to success. As a result of the exacerbating dependency of children on the parents, family dynamics must adjust accordingly to the economic, social, and cultural …show more content…
requires quality child care, education, and nurturing fulfillment. In order to receive the potential benefits of attaining an “enhanced status” of becoming a parent, they must first have the economic means to consistently shell out the best opportunities for their children. Through statistical data, Simon underlines that emerging middle-class families are strained with the rising costs of childrearing, as they could expect to spend “anywhere from $134,370 to $269,520 raising a child from birth through age 17… [providing] a fundamental incompatibility between employment and raising children” (2008, 44). The contemporary societal expectations for raising a child “correctly” includes costly activities, including a university education, extracurricular clubs, and quality babysitting. Despite the lack of accounting for a college education within the statistical data, the costly upbringing of children shifts the priorities of the partners to the child. Rather than allocating resources towards oneself, parents must negotiate the ways in which they divide economic resources and labor within the household. Notably, the “fundamental incompatibility,” as Simon specifies, is further sharpened when accounting the class barriers and socioeconomic status of families. Middle-class and working-class parents are often at a disadvantage due to the costs of …show more content…
In essence, children cause a negative effect on both marital well-being and individuals, as they require emotional, economic, and educational benefits from their parents. When comparatively viewing both Simon and Baca Zinn’s rhetoric, prospective parents would be able to recognize that the idealization of parenthood disguises the potentially damaging effects of raising a child. Particularly in the 21st century, the increasing demands of better education and other extra curricular opportunities for future children demonstrate the growth in economic costs. Parents must adjust to the pressing financial demands of proper child care, engendering an anxiety around raising their children the correct way. In a similar vein, the stress of parenthood is accompanied with the gendered division of labor within the household. Whereas men interact with their children on a physical and playful level, women are expected to become the main source of emotional care. The imbalance of power often relegates women to juggle both reproductive and productive work, rather than prioritizing their own needs. Furthermore, the main stressors of financial struggles and power negotiations can be mitigated by postponing parenthood altogether, as Gregory demonstrates the well-prepared nature of older mothers. Therefore, scrutinizing the idealization of