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I think it's right that we've gotten to a place where women who are at the top or close to the top are willing to be more honest. Every generation defines itself at least in part against the one that came before. We've got a whole new generation of very accomplished young women saying,
'We want different role models but we can't
find them.' AP: In the article you say you are writing for your demographic, "highly educated well-off women who are privileged enough to have choices in the first place." How does your message relate to women who struggle with more basic issues like poverty, lack of child care, being single moms? Slaughter: I am acutely aware of the millions of women who have no choice about working and being with their children. Part of what I'm arguing is that we need to change our social policies more fundamentally with good day care, schools that end the same time work ends, and really providing for a more integrated work and school life, not to mention health care and other things. We need many more changes to allow mothers and parents to be able to spend more time with their children and have a better work-life balance. As a society, that's also about investing in our children by allowing parents to do that. Another part of what I'm arguing is that we don't have enough women politicians. We still don't have a woman president, we don't have enough women at the top of corporations. If you're going to have wider social change, part of that does come from who's in the leadership. AP: Where do husbands, fathers and life partners figure in? Slaughter: Having a life partner who is committed to being an equal caregiver is a necessary but not sufficient condition. Without my husband I never could have gone to Washington. My husband's a hero; he was willing to take the kids during the week. That's essential. I think there are many more men than ever before saying they want to be with their kids and spend more time with them. But even with a wonderful husband, I found
-- and it was the hardest thing to admit to myself -- it was still very important to my sons for me to be there. Even if you marry the man of your dreams, it doesn't solve everything. AP: Any final advice for women who want careers and kids? Slaughter: This won't work for every profession, but having control of your own time is important. If you control your own schedule and your kid gets an ear infection, you can deal with it. If you don't deal with it, an entire week's worth of meetings and work can tumble like dominoes. Of course if you're a surgeon you can't say,
'Sorry, hold that appendix!' but for many professions, we can do it, especially with the technology we have. ___ Online:
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