[Another contribution to the working/parenting series--this time from an actual academic rather than a recovering academic, part-time academic, reluctant academic, etc. like so many of us, myself included!] What activities in your life do you consider “work”? Do you think of parenting–or some component of parenting–as “work”? I should say right away that I have [...]
[This contribution to the working/parenting series is the only one (so far?) from a non-blogger and the only one from a person with what for lack of a better term I'll call a normal job--you know, like with the 8-5 M-F sort of thing going on, and consistent employment throughout her child's life so far. [...]
Another installment in the working/parenting series. I didn’t leave a tenured position as a college professor to “stay at home” with my child and “not work.” I left because I felt my body scream against the thought of not being with my child, and because I wanted to write. I wanted to write, and not the [...]
Another installment in the working/parenting series. Hi First the Egg readers! Isn’t Molly awesome?! So a big thank you to her for including me in this amazing array of parents writing about working and parenting. I am Jessica Montalino (my last name is a pseudonym). I live in Western Massachusetts, with my partner Ron and my wild and boisterous [...]
Welcome to First the Egg, a collection of practical information, links, and cultural criticism. This site is a feminist intervention in our rigidly-gendered culture of childbirth and parenting. It aims to provide a nonsexist space for people who want to learn, reflect, commiserate, or laugh about being pregnant, giving birth, and helping children grow up whole and happy.
Feel free to contact me with ideas or questions at
We don’t need feminism anymore, right?
During a decade of teaching undergraduate courses, I’ve noticed that the vocal majority of my students generally agree about feminism. It used to be pretty useful, but we don’t need it anymore. You see, sexism was real in the hazy past, and it’s real in Other, foreign, dark parts of the world. But unless you’re talking about [...]