Assignment 1-3

Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers

The article is a book review. The review is about a book called "Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers," written by, Mary Ann Mason and Eve Mason Ekman. The book takes a close look at how to balance family life and a fast track career. The main question in the book is, "how can women have it all?" In addtion, they specifically look at when such women have children and when their careers take off. Only now, in the early twenty-first century, after a full generation of women has entered male-dominated professions in significant numbers, Mason contests, can we begin to see clearly ‘‘how the story of women on the fast track unfolds from university education to retirement." To make the reader understand these issues Elkman conducted interviews with several women, which is her primary contribution to the book.

In her findings they concluded that there must be "transformative solutions" in the work environment. They propose that employers create more flexibility for women at the front end of their careers so that they have more options should they want children and that employers help women return to work after a short or long hiatus. Establishing paid family leaves is most important, Mason asserts, and fathers should be encouraged as well as women to take leaves without career jeopardy. Mason also rallies for greater stability and opportunity at the second tier, such that, for example, part-time instructors are given job security, benefits, and better pay.

Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers. (2008, December). Journal of Popular Culture, Retrieved December 15, 2008, doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2008.00565.x