Skip to main content

No More Juggling



Here’s a piece about Amy Brooks of OMO (originally Oakland Mills Online).


Passionate About Community: Local Teacher Talks About The Transition To Distance Leaning For Her Students And Her Family , Anika Baty-Mills* for Columbia Lifestyle

 

Columbia Lifestyle Magazine has made its own transition from print editions to online publication during the recent Covid-19 crisis. I don’t know much about them other than that they describe themselves as a locally owned publication which is a part of the larger Lifestyle Publications Brand. I’ve seen them featuring a variety of interesting local people, Ms.Brooks, for instance. You can read their issues here.


You know I love local connections. And I’m always interested in learning more about the people who are active in our community. But I’m going to point out a pet peeve of mine, which turned up in a promotional tweet.


Why do we keep doing that? Why must the accomplishments of women continue to be framed in the context of “juggling” or “balancing” or “finding time for”, “squeezing in.” You don’t see these words applied to men. 

“Hear how Calvin Ball, public servant, husband and father, juggles it all, while he finds time to connect with our community online!”

It sounds awkward doesn’t it? 

The assumption is that men are fully committed to “do the big thing” while women must “do the big thing” only it they can successfully balance it with being a wife and mother. The whole kit and kaboodle of family responsibility is on them. That’s a whole heck of a lot of labor, emotional and otherwise. I poked fun at this concept back in 2018 when Elevate Maryland was about to do an episode with newly-elected Calvin Ball, Rich Gibson, and Marcus Harris.

3. On this International Men’s Day I hope Candace and Tom will make time to ask their guests how they balance their careers with fatherhood and/or home responsibilities. A few questions about clothing choices and or recipe recommendations for those busy committee-meeting nights would not be amiss, either.


As I recall my question drew a smile but wasn’t posed seriously to the podcast guests. We just don’t ask men those questions. 


Why are we still using that language with women? Probably because we are used to it. And because it takes time to change attitudes and how we see gender roles.


This is not a criticism of Columbia Lifestyle. I’m glad they are a part of the Columbia/HoCo scene. They’ve been doing some features on truly fascinating local women. 


Here’s my plea to you, dear readers. If you find yourself using language that saddles women with all the balancing, juggling, and squeezing in - - stop and check yourself. Think about what that means. It is so much more difficult for women to be accepted and respected for pursuing “the one big thing” if they are continually forced to justify themselves about the “women’s work” we expect them to be taking on, often unasked, often without credit.


So take a look at Columbia Lifestyle. And, how about this:


Hear how Amy Books, Howard County teacher, turned her transition to online learning into creating a hub for community connection! 






*Anika Baty-Mills is the publisher of Columbia Lifestyle Magazine

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more

What Kids Are Thinking

  It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...
1 comment
Read more