I was talking to a friend of mine about this and thought it would be an interesting topic. Where, in your opinion, should women stand in America's working society? Should companies give preferential treatment to pregnant women?

What are your views on the "traditional" home setting? Should the woman be the "homemaker"? Can a man raise the children? Can you TRULY balance raising children as well as working a full-time job?

... and fun was had by all ...

No one "should" do anything. I suppose anyone should have the choice of what they do. And while I believe preferential treatment to women just for being women is unreasonable (not that they're given even equal treatment still), I feel they should be given treatment under conditions such as pregnancy. Basically, one may treat pregnancy as a sort of injury, I suppose (meaning they get so many days, but come on now you had a kid x number of days ago, get working). Of course it could be interpreted so many ways though, too. While injuries in no way help anyone, pregnancy, and in turn procreation....well, I think we all know that it's kind of important.

But do you think that a woman can truly balance a career and raising children? Birthing your child is the easiest part. If that takes up "x amount of days," then how many more days are you going to miss for PTA meetings, musicals, etc.? When raising children you have to give up your entire life and dedicate it to them until they are on their own.

I'm not for giving pregnant women preferential treatment. I think that if they miss the alotted amount of sick days (for a man, "non-procreating" female, whatever....) then they should have to suffer the consequences. Having a child is a choice, and it ends up punishing those who choose to have a career instead of a family if pregnant women are given an extended maternity leave.