Hissy Cat

« Paperback of the Week | Main | From The Dept. Of STOP THE PRESSES! »

March 28, 2006

You've Come Far Enough, Baby

The Annalog pointed me to the interview of powerhouse magazine editor Bonnie Fuller by the NYT's Deboroah Solomon that ran in Sunday's Magazine Section (I know, I know-- I've been that busy.) Fuller's promoting her book, The Joys of Much Too Much, as an antidote to the women-can't-have-it-all books. God forbid anyone suggest that a woman can have a successful career and a happy family, even-- no, especially a woman who has managed to pull off a high-power media career and mother four children. For this, Solomon has only disdain:

As a wife, a mother of four and a symbol of female accomplishment who has served as the editor of Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly, Marie Claire and other magazines, why would you stoop to writing a book like "The Joys of Much Too Much," which basically argues that greed is good?

Fuller's reply:

I think it is good to be greedy in terms of your dreams and in terms of trying to have everything you want out of life. The road to the richest life is one in which you partake of careerhood, lovehood, mommyhood — all of those things.

Wow, what a totally reasonable thing to say! Pursuing your dream of being a mother is no reason not to pursue your dream of being a firefighter! Being an award-winning journalist does NOT mean you'll become man-repellant; you can have a happy marraige and a thrilling career. It's OK to put your needs first. By the way, here's the Publisher's Weekly blurb:

If you still don't know how she does it, Fuller can tell you: don't sweat the small stuff (forget about organizing the sock drawer!), don't expect to be perfect and don't feel guilty. Fuller is a high-powered magazine editor, wife and mother of four, and in the upbeat, peppy style of Helen Gurley Brown, one of her mentors, she explains how you can have it all and enjoy getting it. Fuller is a believer in the power of positive thinking: push yourself forward, she says, and behave in a self-confident manner in order to get the job you want. You can balance marriage, family and career, she says, if your marriage is based on mutual unconditional love. Fuller has had a few hard knocks along the way and describes how she coped with the serious illnesses of two of her daughters, and a career crisis when she was fired from Glamour and had to struggle for months before getting another job. Failure is not a permanent condition, this optimist advises, and her pragmatic approach to a "jam-packed, maxed-out" life should inspire other women trying to have it all.

Not exactly The Fountainhead, is it?

But remember how wacky Bonnie Fuller who, oh yeah, just happened to raise with her husband their four children while accomplishing kind of everything in her field and writing about it, said it is possible to have a family and work? Solomon says no-no:

But we can't have everything. We're in a moment of postfeminist Realpolitik, when women are realizing that juggling a job and family life requires some sacrifices. It's impossible to do everything well all the time.

Which is why men are only dads or professionals, but never both. Because that would just be greedy. Greedy and Poseurpolitik so sacrifice, martyr!

Back to Bonnie:

I'm not suggesting that you do. In fact, I say it's O.K. — your house doesn't have to be clean. You don't have to have clean floors. Your drawers don't have to perfect, and dishes can pile up in the sink. That's part of my philosophy.

What philosophy is this? The philosophy of Dishevelism?

Oh, dis. Good one, Deboroh Solomon. Way to prove that you can't have everything. Sure, you may be a loving mother and an accomplished careerwoman but if your floors aren't pine fresh, you just fail. Fail. As a wife. As a mother. AND AS A HUMAN BEING.

You mention several times in your book that you are the main breadwinner in your family. Are you boasting?

I do like it. I don't mind it.

But how does your husband feel about that? You never even say what he does.

He is a self-employed architect. At one point, after we had our second child, he decided to take time off and stay home. I think he's happy that at least one person in our family is a breadwinner.

Deboroh Solomon, I expect if/ when you have children you'll stop writing at the Times and instead spend the days cleaning the floor till it shines. With your tongue.

Posted by hissycat at March 28, 2006 04:31 AM

Comments

Posted by: Karin at March 28, 2006 05:16 PM

Posted by: The Happy Feminist at March 29, 2006 01:26 PM

Posted by: hissycat at March 29, 2006 02:27 PM

Posted by: lindsay simone at March 29, 2006 10:53 PM

Posted by: karel at October 18, 2006 04:22 AM

Posted by: bumbarash at November 6, 2006 09:01 AM

Posted by: Peter at November 22, 2006 03:43 AM

Posted by: Peter at November 22, 2006 03:43 AM

Posted by: Susanna at November 24, 2006 02:52 PM

Posted by: Bartholomew at November 30, 2006 01:16 AM

Posted by: ebony pussy at December 3, 2006 09:53 PM

Posted by: ebony pussy at December 3, 2006 09:54 PM

Posted by: Anonymous at December 23, 2006 02:49 PM

Posted by: Anonymous at December 23, 2006 02:49 PM

Posted by: dikhrxa empzrsla at January 17, 2007 02:48 AM

Posted by: mdeorqwgs lqkezjyb at January 17, 2007 02:49 AM

Posted by: livesex cams at January 22, 2007 01:22 AM

Posted by: sex cams at January 25, 2007 05:20 AM

Posted by: adult cams at January 25, 2007 02:56 PM

Posted by: adult web cams at January 25, 2007 07:33 PM

Posted by: hydrocodone apap at January 25, 2007 07:37 PM

Posted by: blog inurl trackback tramadol at January 25, 2007 09:02 PM

Posted by: discount tramadol at January 25, 2007 09:54 PM

Posted by: discount tramadol at January 25, 2007 09:54 PM

Posted by: tramadol sale at January 25, 2007 11:44 PM

Posted by: live web cams at January 26, 2007 05:05 PM

Posted by: air fare ticket at January 29, 2007 01:28 PM

Posted by: insurance companies at January 31, 2007 03:03 AM

Posted by: insurance companies at January 31, 2007 03:03 AM

Posted by: xanax and alcohol at January 31, 2007 12:54 PM

Posted by: hydrocodone overdose at February 1, 2007 12:31 AM

Posted by: hydrocodone overdose at February 1, 2007 12:33 AM

Posted by: tramadol 100mg at February 1, 2007 01:25 AM

Posted by: hydrocodone apap at February 1, 2007 07:44 AM

Posted by: ultram controlled at February 1, 2007 09:03 AM

Posted by: mp3 ringtones at February 1, 2007 11:15 AM

Posted by: xanax prescription at February 1, 2007 04:59 PM

Posted by: xanax prescription at February 1, 2007 04:59 PM

Posted by: soma compound at February 2, 2007 01:58 AM

Posted by: alprazolam tablets at February 2, 2007 05:11 AM

Posted by: verizon wireless ringtones at February 2, 2007 11:30 PM

Posted by: dinnerware bowls at February 3, 2007 09:35 PM

Posted by: hydrocodone without prescription at February 6, 2007 02:27 PM

Posted by: hydrocodone lortab at February 13, 2007 06:52 AM

Posted by: cam couple sex at February 15, 2007 09:10 PM

Posted by: hydrocodone online at February 18, 2007 08:56 PM

Posted by: advertisement cigarette at February 21, 2007 02:02 PM

Posted by: buy hydrocodone at February 26, 2007 06:23 PM

Posted by: buy hydrocodone at February 26, 2007 06:24 PM

Posted by: hydrocodone addiction at March 3, 2007 10:15 PM

Posted by: Elona at March 6, 2007 08:20 AM

Posted by: hydrocodone apap at March 11, 2007 10:10 AM

Posted by: hydrocodone apap at March 11, 2007 10:11 AM

Posted by: picture viagra at March 12, 2007 02:19 AM

Posted by: get viagra at March 12, 2007 04:33 AM

Posted by: alternative viagra at March 12, 2007 06:12 AM

Posted by: alternative viagra at March 12, 2007 06:12 AM

Posted by: research viagra at March 12, 2007 09:26 AM

Posted by: research viagra at March 12, 2007 09:26 AM

Posted by: erection viagra at March 12, 2007 12:34 PM

Posted by: research viagra at March 12, 2007 01:52 PM

Posted by: substitute viagra at March 12, 2007 03:19 PM

Posted by: prescription viagra at March 12, 2007 07:10 PM

Posted by: prescription viagra at March 12, 2007 07:10 PM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)