Follow-Up To: "A Woman's Nation", Really

Today the First Lady of California, Maria Shriver discussed the rising number of woman earning more than their mates. I found this very interesting for several reasons. First, there's actually politicians spending our money to discuss what we already know. That women receive 77 cent to the $1.00 the men earn, which hasn't changed since I was a young women entering the work force, 40 years ago! Second, the sterotype that males are the "breadwinners" are the direct result from a life-long teaching that husbands are the head of the household.
Let's not confuss these areas of life as we live it, not know it. Thirty years ago, most women "were" stay at home moms, baking the pies, swoping receipes, running errands, car-pooling the kids to soccor, getting the budget allowance and not thinking to question where the rest of the paycheck went.
Most women carrying the higher income levels today are the combined results from several factors. Men, after 20-25 years at the same jobs find themselves unemployeed for a varity of reasons. Any of which will not and don't matter at that point. OF course it stands to reason that if the women was employeed at the time of her husbands layoff making an annual income of $80,000, she's the breadwinner! Give me a break. That figure was just calculated into the ratio of working women with higher incomes! REALLY
However, study shows that women in Management and/or own their own business carry a higher rate of production & growth. Added with the fact that women still struggle with the fight for rights & equal pay and for many years the results reflect these women out produce their male counterparts in the work force but not the income catorgory. Why is that acceptable & why do we need to pay government official to discuss this matter without a sound resolve?
The Shriver Report reflects the upward trend of more women being the "breadwinners" and is becoming more comfortable by both women & men. It would appear to me that in most situations where the women is the breadwinner, it's primarily due to a company lay off, not by family decisions. This is not to say, we, women, wouldn't appreciate the pay our counterparts receive simply for being men. Our socity dictates women to be Mothers, Partners, Stay At Home Mom's, etc.. Not the breadwinners. So most don't plow ahead with the intention to devote our lives to a career leading to the major income levels necessary to provide for a family comfortably. Not to mention, most young men are not equipt by standards to accept a more powerful counterpart in a new relationship/marriage.
Another interesting area of this inquest is the question with how to deal with the struggles? As previously stated, we're taught that men are the heads of the house! Yet women are assumed to take on the multi-task of children, home & job, etc..Where as up until only the past few years men were expected to be the breadwinner, mow the lawn, keep the car running, and go camping at least once a year, really. The struggle to release the title is more difficult than accepting your wife's income as higher than before your layoff. However, on the other hand, for most men, not being the breadwinner is emotionally difficult & sometimes even embarrassing.
So, how do women continue to be the "Perfect Mom", "Beautiful Wife", Nice Neighbor, & Breadwinner when the insurance coverage no longer exsist after her husbands layoff and her husband can't compete with the young generation that gets the job, even with 20 + year experience? The women takes on more responsiblity at her job, makes all attempts to climb that corporate ladder. But at .77 per the dollar, there's that total 30% plus family insurance coverage that will never be recovered!
I think the new stay at home Dad, if between the ages of 25-35 will and can make the necessary adjustments to take over Mom's resposnibility of the home. However, lets not forget the man that after 25 years at the same company, now at 55+ years of age, needs & realize's that his wife should be earning the equal pay that we have been discussing now for over 30 years.
My question is this; What does Hillary running for the Presidency, or Pallin being a possible candiate in the next election have anything to do with the point in question? Whether our country is ready for a Women in such a powerful position or not is not the point. Until the changes to do what is correct and right by all persons, which is to pay a PERSON for the abilities they perform, we, as a society will never be ready for a women in power because we will always find reason to demen that position & the title rightfully earned by her.