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Start giftingWhy Have Kids?
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Learn moreA provocative and intimate exploration of modern parenthood from a writer named “a gutsy young third-wave feminist” by the New York Times.
If parenting is making Americans unhappy, if it’s impossible to “have it all,” if people don’t have the economic, social, or political structures needed to support parenting, then why do it?
In Why Have Kids?, Valenti explores these controversial questions through on-the-ground reporting, startling new research, and her own unique experiences as a mom. She moves beyond the black and white “mommy wars” over natural parenting, discipline, and work-life balance to explore a more nuanced reality: one filled with ambivalence, joy, guilt, and exhaustion. A must-read for parents as well as those considering starting a family, Why Have Kids? is an explosive addition to the conversation about modern parenthood.
Jessica Valenti was called “a gutsy young third-wave feminist” by the New York Times. She was included in the Guardian’s Top 100 Inspiring Women list and has appeared on Anderson Live, The Colbert Report, The TODAY Show, and in the New York Times Magazine. She is a frequent lecturer at universities. She founded feministing.com and has written three books including Full Frontal Feminism.
Reviews
“This timely volume, which should generate much controversy, is a call for much-needed change and may unite a new generation of moms.” —Publishers Weekly
“Timely…[Valenti] states early on that her book is meant to anger people and incite discussions…She wades deeply into the moral and logistical problems facing mothers, with interviews, research and her own anecdotal experiences.” —Kirkus Reviews
“For mothers like Valenti, who felt guilty admitting impatience at the drudgery and boredom that constitutes much of parenting, this book may be a revelation. And a comfort.” —People Magazine
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