To the Editor:
What does Judith Shulevitz’s brand of feminism offer to women who do not have children? They are often the ones left behind in the office, taking on all the extra work that piles up when someone goes on leave. I’ve had to travel more, work longer hours and manage more people because someone in the office had a baby. And, this has happened multiple times in my career.
It is just assumed that women like me will take over for the new moms. By the time she comes back to work, I’m exhausted, but there is no leave offered to me. The same when children are sick, or it’s the school play, or soccer games, or any other of the myriad times that mothers take time off for their children. Doesn’t anyone ever realize that all the assistance offered to women with children is at the expense of someone else? I don’t care if you call it feminism or something else, I would just like to see a system that works for everyone.
LINDA PORTER
Seattle
