On the same day my child had to go to school and tell the teacher, ‘My mom threw my homework out because she thought it was rubbish trash,’* because I did and so I did, I read this in the paper.
You really need to follow that link, yes, yes you do. Read on its own, that article actually gives a false impression of higher education here in the UAE. I don’t have the figures and things to hand right now, but young women are taking up higher education opportunities at a very high rate. I would tell you more about this, but I don’t have time right now. It’s 11.26 and I have promised myself that I will be at my desk – the one without the internet connection – ready to work at 11.30.
*serious language influences at work in youngest child’s vocabulary
adelaide from adelaide 
I don’t understand. Why is rubbish crossed out?
because we use the word rubbish in Australia, but he always uses the word trash – he is becoming American
Good Lord.
Several things occur… firstly, some of the more conservative christian colleges in the US have offered similar degrees…. I’m not sure if they have classes about pedicures, though.
Odd that he thinks having hired help makes women worse mothers. Or that the divorce rate has something to do with parenting skills…
do you think his household has a maid?
“On average, there is a minimum of two maids per household in the UAE
Different world indeed!
Coo.
I was so glad to read that there were some skeptics in there.
On trash – does it grate on your ears? My 4yo has picked up the American way of saying ‘can’t’ (to rhyme with pant). We haaaaates it we does.
Sorry, that should have been sceptics.
I’m still confused. Why did you throw out his homework?
And isn’t this ‘degree in motherhood’ just adding to the commodification of women? Or am I missing something?
Oh, I hope I shall have answers to these questions. I need them for my next fatherhood assignment; it’s due at 5pm!
I just threw it out, because it was hanging around with all the other gazillion pieces of paper on the table, and they bring home too much paper so I thought it was part of the ‘no longer needed’ paper. On the degree in motherhood, I think you’re right. But I mentioned the other stuff about higher education, because I didn’t want to leave the impression that the motherhood degree was typical.
Oh.
I was imagining some kind of complex protest about the need to be qualified for a biological condition.
“I’ll show YOU a degree in motherhood! KAPOW! Children’s homework in the bin! BLAMMO! Family dinner down the dunny! You shall ratify my motherhood when you can pry its complexities from my cold, iron-deficient hands!”
Extra credit question: is motherhood a “biological condition”? I’m looking for some vaguely humorous way to ironically trivialise the hardest job in the world which also has the highest employment rate. Discuss and show working.
I would like two maids. I would actually like three or maybe four. And a butler. If I had to do a degree in grooming and motherhood in order to get a couple of maids I would serious consider it…
Wow. Who knew that good grooming and personal fitness were so important to ‘running a household’? Loved the critiques offered at the end of the article though. Sounds like a society in flux (like ours).
I love the fact that it’s a bachelor degree.
Ha! Hadn’t even noticed. That is, indeed, quite brilliant.