Every mom knows being a full-time parent is the hardest, most undervalued job there is. But should stay-at-home moms get a salary in the conventional sense? Influential South African businesswoman Wendy Luhabe thinks so. During a recent interview with CNN, she claimed stay-at-homes should get a 10 per cent cut of their husband's salary.
In Luhabe's view, getting a wage for the work of raising children is the only way to validate the job and prove that it has "societal value".
“Money," says Luhabe, "is the currency that we use to define value of a contribution to the world, so why shouldn’t we do the same for the work of bringing up children, which I think is probably the most important contribution that the world should be valuing.”
Yes, and no. While mothering is definitely an important contribution to the world, isn't raising your child a reward in itself? Staying home full-time to raise children is not only a personal choice, it's also something of a luxury these days.
And anyway, where exactly would this extra 10 per cent cut come from? The government? The husband's employer? When you look at it this way, Luhabe’s idea of paying stay-at-home-moms might be laudable but it's also vaguely preposterous.
What do you think? Should stay-at-home moms be compensated for their "work"? Pay back could start at home, with maybe a subsidized massage!
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