So I’ve been reading Opinionistas for a while — the blog of an allegedly hot, Manhattan, big firm attorney. I really enjoy it. Today, however, she wrote about how pregnancy affects firm life. I don’t really know what point she’s trying to make though. Having never been a) A woman, b) Pregnant, c) An attorney… I can’t really speak intelligently on the topic (what else is new) but I’m going to speak on it anyway (you knew I would).
To quote:
While the partners know better than to fire you for having a baby, they still may be none too pleased about it. Knocked up associates sometimes find their workload conveniently drop off after making the announcement, or discover that the plum assignments are now coincidentally handed to someone else. It’s the classic cult mentality; how dare a female associate let the firm down by choosing to dedicate some time to procreating the species.
Is it really that unreasonable to give a pregnant woman a less stressful and demanding workload? I mean, what would you think about a firm that continued to run a woman ragged after three or four months of pregnancy? Oh wait, that was covered a short time later:
I went back to my office to mull that one over and have one of my imaginary conversations, the only time at work where I say what I really think: “Woman, are you fucking serious? You’re saying that you were a psychotic hormonally-imbalanced workaholic while carrying your child, and as a result this poor woman should be too in order to prove some bullshit allegiance to the firm? We both know that you aren’t going to touch that document until tomorrow morning, get a shred of human decency.”
…so, essentially, once a woman gets pregnant there’s no right move… except to give her exactly what she wants, exactly when she wants it. Sounds about like being married to a pregnant woman. (Note: I don’t know anything about that either.)
July 26th, 2005 at 1:14 pm
I’ve had experience with this (being married, pregnant, and employed at the same time). I assume we are talking about a fairly independent minded woman, one who fiercely defends her ability to do everything her male counterparts do. From experience, it is hard for us “independent women” to realize that we can’t be the uber-woman while pregnant. Our bodies tell us this, but because we are use to being independent we try to ignore it. I did this with school and failed miserably.
Also, pregnant women can be completely irrational at any given moment due to super excessive amounts of hormones. Again, people kept telling me school was a bad idea, but of course I wouldn’t listen.
I think if you asked my husband, he would agree that he sometimes just gave me what I wanted in order to avoid listening to me whine. I was never reasonable during the entire 9 months, that’s for sure.
July 26th, 2005 at 1:18 pm
This trait is limited to pregnant women?
July 26th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
Not necessarily, but its amplified by at least 25 to the 200th degree when pregnancy is involved. A definite difference from normal female irrationality.