Thoughts on Childrearing

Jane Galt shares some interesting thoughts and analysis on childrearing and socialization of children:

Assuming there isn't any biological predisposition towards childrearing whatsoever, is the current mildly pro-childrearing socialisation we give girls a good or a bad thing?

I'm not sure. If childrearing is a) necessary and b) as tedious as everyone assures me, then it strikes me that whatever feminine thrill women get out of doing it probably increases the happiness associated with the activity. And, based only on my own previous relationship experience, I'd imagine that socialisation which reduces the number of areas that have to be negotiated probably, on net, makes marriages happier.

Moreover, while it almost certainly makes ambitious professional women less happy, there's probably a net increase of happiness for all the women who don't have to go to tedious jobs. Most jobs suck at least as badly as taking care of (your own) home and children. There are a lot more bookkeepers and factory workers in the world than there are economics correspondents for international newspapers. It seems to me that, among my friends who have chosen to stay home, the decision is highly correlated with how interesting their previous job was. All the former corporate lawyers I know are happily home; none of the journalists I know are.

Also, Daniel Gilbert has argued persuasively that we're actually happier when are choices are irrevocable, rather than negotiated; a woman who has stayed home because that's what women do may be (probably is) happier than one who is constantly deciding between staying home longer or returning to work.

And there are large network effects. Working women can force other women to work by using their salaries to bid up the cost of homes in good school districts; stay home moms are happier when there are more women around to socialise with; both groups would rather have schools and services geared to their schedules.

So it is entirely possible that society might be better off with pro-childcare socialisation for women.

But then a little voice whispers . . . I'm one of those happy professional women. What about me?

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