Madam, - In her recent article, Victoria White (Opinion, May 10th) stressed the most important matter of parenting and family life in Ireland. To give primacy to human dignity we must show as much concern for social progress as for economic growth. We must make work more woman-friendly.
In most societies women work in nearly every sector of life. They should be able to fulfil their tasks in accordance with their own nature without being discriminated against and without being excluded from jobs for which they are capable but also without lack of respect for their family aspirations in contributing together with men for the good of society.
The true advancement of women requires their labour should be structured in such a way that women do not have to pay for their advancement by abandoning what is specific to them and at the expense of the family in which women as mothers have an irreplaceable role.
The family based on monogamous marriage is our greatest social asset. It is a prime governmental duty to protect it. Parenting requires skill, dedication, expertise, love; it is the most difficult and most important job in the world. There are very many mothers who would opt to care for their own children in their own homes. Instead of providing creche accommodation the State should pay mothers who opt to care for their own children in their own homes. There would be little difference in the State cost but obviously there would be enormous difference in the end result.
Nobody can bring up children as well as their own parents. - Yours, etc,
JAMES DUNDON, MD,
Bushy Park Road,
Terenure,
Dublin 6.