Ann Oakley Mother Quotations

Being a "good" mother does not call for the same qualities as being a "good" housewife. . . . a dedication to keeping children clean and tidy may override an interest in their separate development as individuals.

Being a good mother does not call for the same qualities as being a good housewife; a dedication to keeping children clean and tidy may override an interest in their separate development as individuals.

Clearly, society has a tremendous stake in insisting on a woman's natural fitness for the career of mother: the alternatives are all too expensive.