Several weeks back, Gwyneth Paltrow was put under serious scrutiny [1] by both the media and working moms for her commentary on her own work-life balance versus that of women working 9-to-5 jobs during an interview with E! Online. In case you missed Paltrow's "fighting words:"
"I think it's different when you have an office job, because it's routine and, you know, you can do all the stuff in the morning and then you come home in the evening. When you're shooting a movie, they're like, 'We need you to go to Wisconsin for two weeks,' and then you work 14 hours a day and that part of it is very difficult. I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as, of course there are challenges, but it's not like being on set."
Needless to say, the backlash that ensued from moms who juggle office jobs with raising families was extreme, to say the least. Today, Paltrow used her weekly Goop newsletter [2] to respond to those who slammed her as an elitist.
"This somehow was taken to mean I had said a 9-5 job is easier, and a lot of heat was thrown my way, especially by other working mothers who somehow used my out-of-context quote as an opportunity to express feelings (perhaps projected) on the subject. As the mommy wars rage on, I am constantly perplexed and amazed by how little slack we cut each other as women. We see disapproval in the eyes of other mothers when we say how long we breastfed (Too long? Not long enough?), or whether we have decided to go back to work versus stay home. Is it not hard enough to attempt to raise children thoughtfully, while contributing something, or bringing home some (or more) of the bacon? Why do we feel so entitled to opine, often so negatively, on the choices of other women? Perhaps because there is so much pressure to do it all, and do it all well all at the same time (impossible)."
What do you think? Were the critics too tough on Gwyneth? Does she have a valid point in her argument to put an end to the judgment that comes with the "mommy wars"? Weigh in!
Source: Instagram user gwynethpaltrow [3]; Front Page