Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

This is really a nice blog. I will keep reading. Please take the time to visit my blog about Free Home Business Information http://myfreehomebusiness.blogspot.com/

Hey Deb:
Lighten up for a minute. If no one had a baked goods business - or a gift basket business - or ran a day care center - or offered a nanny service - or became a personal chef - or took care of our pets - or made gourmet pet treats - or sold environmentally friendly and time-saving cleaning products - we wouldn't have those goods and services to purchase - would we?

You fail to mention that I also said that plenty of dads might be interested in these pursuits as well and that I also linked in to all of the home business ideas if a mom didn't see what she liked in the article. You also failed to mention the business ideas that are "gender neutral" (aren't they all, really?), such as independent wine consultant, running an online home business (which Kathy Wilson herself suggested was a great pursuit for women who want a home business). You also neglected to mention that the business examples suggested are actually real life businesses that are currently being run by women - they're not just something I came up with because I thought women should cook, clean and take care of the kids.

So why suggest these things for women? Because Mother's Day is coming up and because I want WAHMs to know I do try to consider their interests too - my site is not a mens' club. As you know from visiting my site, I often feature guest content from women in business in the hope of trying to discuss issues that might be of interest to that segment of my audience. I suppose I would have been better off doing as everyone else is doing out there and just rattle off a list of gifts for mom - but then that could have been considered stereotypical, too, unless I was a woman, of course.

The battle of the sexes continues - and that's unfortunate - and there's just no way to be "politically correct" anymore.

I say more power to all the women - and men - who had the courage to start a business and make it successful - or to dream about starting one - regardless of what they choose to do. And, believe it or not, I really don't care what that is as long as it's legal and the person enjoys what they do. That's the whole purpose of maintaining that site - not to start a "Don Imus vs. Rutgers womens' basketball team" controversy. (BTW - that offended me, too.)

Well, my comment is now longer than your post so I'll shut up now. Can't we all just get along?

Randy

Yes, Randy, indeed you did say all those things BUT your headline is the most telling of all: "Top 10 Business Opportunities for Moms", Not "Moms and Dads", Not the "Top 10 Gender Neutral Business Ideas", but the top opportunities for Moms. I'm not saying we don't need these things, but listing them as the top jobs for moms just screams "stereotype."

There are plenty of other types women owned businesses. For instance, writing, designing, bookkeeping, accounting, legal advice, real estate, nutrition, and more.

I do like the wine consultant idea, though. Frankly I can't think of a better job after dealing spending the day with kids! And by the way, I do find most of your articles and blog entries to be informative and helpful.

It's nothing personal, I just disagree.

If Randy had put it in the context of: "Some long-standing suggestions for mom businesses have included running a day care, selling baked goods, etc." I'd have no problem with that. He then could have written: "If those come across as too traditional or sterotypical, don't fret-- just as many moms are making more than a buck or two running home-based accounting businesses, real estate, organizational services and more. Why not throw your hat in the ring...?"

Whenever women get upset about sterotyping, the typical response is to say, "Lighten up." as if we're always over-reacting. Must be that estrogen.

In this case, I think you're right, Deb, when you say the title said it all. What wasn't said (something like my suggestion above) can be just as telling as what has been said. I'm sure Randy is a great guy. Even great guys harbor sterotypical thinking about women. After all, look at Google's big faux pas! ( http://pinkpowersuit.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-love-wanes-google-offends-feminist.html ) And I still love Google.

Excuse me while I unknot my panties. ;-)

Now you're misleading everyone again. The title isn't "Top 10 Business Opportunities for Moms" it's just "10 Home-Based Business Ideas for Moms". First, I didn't imply these were the BEST ways for a woman to do business, and secondly, they are IDEAS. So no, I don't agree that "the title says it all".

The About.com article struck me the same way. However, I guess if you're writing for the lowest common denominator, you need to assume that the people in your target market have limited skills. But, unlike the model for 1950s, most modern stay-at-home moms have children in their late 20s or 30s, so they do have work experience and skills.