[NOW Actions] Tell the Media: the "Opt-Out Revolution" is a Myth

Support NOW's Work |	April 6, 2007	| Tell a Friend

All NOW Actions More about Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights More about Media Activism		Dismantle the Mom Myth: Send a Letter to the Media Join NOW's Dismantle the Mom Myth Campaign Demand that your local media outlets tell the truth about the challenges women face when trying to balance work and family, and how policymakers can help. 1) Enter your zip code in the box on this page 2) Select up to five media outlets to write to 3) Select "Dismantle the Mom Myth" as your message 4) Use our talking points to create your message or write your own from scratch 5) Go back and select five more media outlets if you want to send more letters! Are you sick of the media claiming that there's an epidemic of women trading high-powered careers for stay-at-home motherhood? Does your own experience tell you that women are in fact managing both careers and motherhood, or that those who appear to "opt-out" were actually pushed out? Don't you wish they'd mention that better policies would make a world of difference for mothers and caregivers -- like more flex-time, better child care options, benefits for part-time workers, paid sick days and family leave, and better health coverage? Are you bothered that these stories about the "opt-out revolution" don't even address the fact that, for many women, working is a necessity and there is no option of opting-out? We are, too. We've long known that the so-called "opt-out revolution" was a myth, despite its propagation by such news outlets as The New York Times. That's why we're excited about two recent publications that challenge the myth and criticize the media for perpetuating it. In her recent article in the Columbia Journalism Review, author E. J. Graff debunks "The Opt-Out Myth" and takes reporters and editors to task for focusing stories on anecdotes from a relatively small group of mothers who can afford to leave the waged workforce. "The stories imply that these women took the 'off-ramp' for a few years, but really they were run off the road," said NOW President Kim Gandy. Read more about the E.J. Graff's article debunking the "opt-out myth". Graff's article cites another recent report, "'Opt-Out' or Pushed Out? How the Press Covers Work/Family Conflict" (PDF), by Joan Williams of the Center for WorkLife Law, which analyzes how the media discuss women's reasons for leaving the workforce. These articles provide some data to back up what we've known for a long time: that the "opt-out revolution" is a myth. Join NOW's "Dismantle the Mom Myth" campaign and demand that your local media outlets tell the truth about the challenges women face when trying to balance work and family, and how policymakers can help. Learn more about our campaign: Six tips before you get started on your "Dismantle the Mom Myth" letter Use our easy-to-follow template to draft your own letter Or read our sample letters to help you get started Send your letter!
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