Kindlon's discussion about the influence of family on alpha girls emphasizes the importance of strong adult figures during child development. He states that alpha girls are more likely to talk to their mothers about their future career plans and value their opinion. The role of the mother in the life of alpha girls expands beyond emotional caregiver to career adviser. Additionally, Kindlon highlights how male figures in an alpha girl's life allows her to understand and access characteristics that have been commonly associated with males. The major questions that I had after reading these sections of the book were: Will the alpha girls of today be able to develop the same relationships that helped them succeed? How will the success of the alpha girl impact the development of families?
One of the major characteristics of the alpha girl is the presences of choice. While women are no longer shown the "myth of the inevitable domesticity," they face the challenge of balancing their careers and family life. As Kindlon highlights many of the alpha girls are driven by the need to do well academically and in their careers. While all of these attributes are admirable and women should not be limited in their roles, will society accommodate the needs of the alpha girl? While I believe that it is possible for alpha girls to become strong role models for their daughters, some studies reveal statistics that suggest that women face substantial obstacles. For example, African American women struggle to find same-race partners with similar educational backgrounds. Women may also face the challenge of the trade-off of being available for their child (either through maternity leave or childcare) without detracting from their work. Will these obstacles hinder the alpha girls? Will the family structure pay the price for alpha girls' ambition or will alpha girls carve out a new path for their families?
It is interesting to consider the importance of family on children and how family structure influences children's ambitions. The definition of family is variable. A good way to understand our children and their families would be to talk about the definition of family. If children do not get the structure of family at home, how can we create in the classroom?
ReplyDeleteI also am interested in the role of males in the alspha girl's life. How can male teachers and other male school professionals fill the role of missing fathers? Can they provide some of the characteristics that a father would provide?
Does the book offer any commentary about how the alpha girl best balances a family life and a career? I'm curious what the author would prescribe.
ReplyDeleteMy thought is that the alpha girl will carve out a new path. In order to maintain the family structure that helped to shape the alpha girl though, she will need a strong support system. To me that means that the alpha girl and her partner need to strike a balance. Childcare and all of the household responsibilities will need to be shared equally, allowing the alpha girl to have the best of both worlds. Is it possible to create an alpha world where this is the norm?
Similar to Rebekah's post, I wonder if the more intricate dance women must perform between seeking opportunities within the workforce and being the matron of their families will allow men to perform more of the traditional women's role in the home. While I will by no means dispute that women face much more intractable and powerful obstructions to equality, men also face some when it comes to the playing more domestic roles. Simply put, will it become more acceptable for men to become the primary leader of the modern family?
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