years later their earnings are very different. Many professions professional women comfortably "wrap together career and fam were structured for"the Father Knows Best world, when every per- ily, "notes Goldin. Many can even afford to"opt out"for a couple in the labor market had a mirror image in the home, "which of years to be with their kids. "I have no crocodile tears for tional clock often conflicts with their biological clock, and many concerned. "They aren't going to do aswel/ t who early thir- freed time for the paid worker. Hence"rising to the top"(tenure, women at this level, "she says It's the women in their early thir- partnership, profit shares)required enormous amounts of time- ties who dropped out of high school (o percent), or graduated on average 8o hours a week. For women, the traditional promo- but didn't do any college(25 percent), abe who want children don't"opt into"the partner track, says Goldin, trong Women Girls seeks to change those statistics hoosing instead less demanding-and less remunerative--cor for a future generation. SWSG's Lindsey Hyde also supports porate counsel, government, or nonprofit work, or having a small flextime solutions in the present. Her female staff find creative firm (Being slow to adapt to women,s realities has cost law firms ways to balance work and family, and their partners and spouses dearly, however, prompting restructuring that will benefit alpha are assuming more domestic responsibilities, too. "Women in my rls. To attract and retain female attorneys, some firms now offer generation are asking their partners to be more involved, and flextime partner tracks; "lattice"rather than "ladder"careers- considering that before entering a more serious relationship, "she climbing interspersed with slower childbearing periods; on-site says. "Is this somebody who's going to support me in the choice daycare: flat-rate or project-based compensation rather than bill- that I make, whatever those choices may be?" able hours; and part-time partnerships. Alpha girls won't make the same mistake their mothers made, The alpha girls Kindlon studied were aware that "having it all" says Kindlon-"have a job and do go percent of the domestic n't easy. Most knew their career path: medicine was at the top stuff. They'll tell their husbands or partners, "We,'re going to (25 percent), followed by STEM(science, technology, engineer- split this. If you're home, you're going to change diapers the same hen comes the critical, pivotal point of turning 30, when " you' ve got about 10 years left to have kids"and alpha confidence falters. "All of a sudden my students start to think, How am I going to reserve part of my energy, my self, my creativity, and my time,to have kids?' They get anxious ing,math) fields and art/music (13 percent each), business(12 way I do. If the house is dirty, either I'll get used to it, or you're percent), and politics/law (9 percent). Medicine was the first going to help me out with it. "This generation won't feel"it's their choice, Kindlon believes, because most female physicians can and work to do, as a lot of women today do" as a result, men will pick do practice part-time, allowing a luc crave satis sfying career with up a bigger share and womens lives won't feel as unbalanced. time for kids. By specialty, the percentage of female residents in "It's very possible that my daughters will be the primary 2003 was highest for obstetrics/gynecology(7 percent), fol- breadwinners in their homes, " Kindlon spece for them!"Single pathology and psychiatry (so percent each), family medicine(49 mothers already carry that responsibility, but more married percent), and surgery (24 percent). How might subsequent mothers will, too. In fact, "if the college-educated person is mak choices influence alpha women,s salaries?"Women are usi ng more money and has health benefits and the other person heir market power not to maximize their earnings, but to get the doesn't, who's going to cut back on the career? There's no ques- job that allows more balance, "says Katz. Theyre forming group tion, Ive seen it. I have nephews whose wives are working, and ob/gyn practices and earning $140, 000 a year for 5o-hour weeks theyre st and not coming in at night, while men are making $18o, ooo for 60 and not ing home with the kids, because money's behind it, ings stopping that trend. "(Some estimates number hours and taking the emergency calls U.S. stay-at-home dads at 2 million. )The real fuel for the engine The work/family challenge involves more than wages, is going to be that women will have more money, so they'll have course. When young women face the reality of child-rearing, more of a say over what happens, " he adds. With parenting no here may be a psychological penalty, says Louann Brizendine. longer"women,s work"alone, perhaps a true work/life balance is Her psychiatry-neurology residents are"two years out from possible for men and women. hanging up their shingle, "she reports, "and I don't see them gi For Hyde, a different responsibility is foremost. "One of the ing a second thought to anything holding them back from what things that is really important for women of my generation to be they want to do-up to age 27 or 28. The question of children cognizant of is that we have had tremendous opportunities and looms ahead, but"they go full steam with their ambition--the that it is incumbent on us to make sure that the young women- alpha female is out there doing her thing. Then comes the criti- and young men-who are coming up behind us have access to cal, pivotal point of turning 30, when "you've got about 1o years those same opportunities. As people who have been so privileged left to have kids"-and alpha confidence falters. "All of a sudden to live in this time period, we really do have a responsibility to my students start to think, How am I going to reserve part of my continue to make change moving forward. energy, my self, my creativity, and my time, to have kids?"They get anxious. Contributing editor Harbour Fraser Hodder, Ph D'gl, lives in central Massa Of course, with money for good daycare and good schools, chusetts. 42 JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2008 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-574642 January - February 2008 years later their earnings are very di≠erent. Many professions were structured for “the Father Knows Best world, when every per￾son in the labor market had a mirror image in the home,” which freed time for the paid worker. Hence “rising to the top” (tenure, partnership, profit shares) required enormous amounts of time— on average 80 hours a week. For women, the traditional promo￾tional clock often conflicts with their biological clock, and many who want children don’t “opt into” the partner track, says Goldin, choosing instead less demanding—and less remunerative—cor￾porate counsel, government, or nonprofit work, or having a small firm. (Being slow to adapt to women’s realities has cost law firms dearly, however, prompting restructuring that will benefit alpha girls. To attract and retain female attorneys, some firms now o≠er flextime partner tracks; “lattice” rather than “ladder” careers— climbing interspersed with slower childbearing periods; on-site daycare; flat-rate or project-based compensation rather than bill￾able hours; and part-time partnerships.) The alpha girls Kindlon studied were aware that “having it all” isn’t easy. Most knew their career path: medicine was at the top (25 percent), followed by STEM (science, technology, engineer￾ing, math) fields and art/music (13 percent each), business (12 percent), and politics/law (9 percent). Medicine was the first choice, Kindlon believes, because most female physicians can and do practice part-time, allowing a lucrative, satisfying career with time for kids. By specialty, the percentage of female residents in 2003 was highest for obstetrics/gynecology (71 percent), fol￾lowed by pediatrics (65 percent), dermatology (57 percent), pathology and psychiatry (50 percent each), family medicine (49 percent), and surgery (24 percent). How might subsequent choices influence alpha women’s salaries? “Women are using their market power not to maximize their earnings, but to get the job that allows more balance,” says Katz. They’re forming group ob/gyn practices and earning $140,000 a year for 50-hour weeks and not coming in at night, while men are making $180,000 for 60 hours and taking the emergency calls. The work/family challenge involves more than wages, of course. When young women face the reality of child-rearing, there may be a psychological penalty, says Louann Brizendine. Her psychiatry-neurology residents are “two years out from hanging up their shingle,” she reports, “and I don’t see them giv￾ing a second thought to anything holding them back from what they want to do—up to age 27 or 28.” The question of children looms ahead, but “they go full steam with their ambition—the alpha female is out there doing her thing.” Then comes the criti￾cal, pivotal point of turning 30, when “you’ve got about 10 years left to have kids”—and alpha confidence falters. “All of a sudden my students start to think, ‘How am I going to reserve part of my energy, my self, my creativity, and my time, to have kids?’ They get anxious.” Of course, with money for good daycare and good schools, professional women comfortably “wrap together career and fam￾ily,” notes Goldin. Many can even a≠ord to “opt out” for a couple of years to be with their kids. “I have no crocodile tears for women at this level,” she says. It’s the women in their early thir￾ties who dropped out of high school (10 percent), or graduated but didn’t do any college (25 percent), about whom Goldin is concerned. “They aren’t going to do as well.” Strong Women, Strong Girls seeks to change those statistics for a future generation. SWSG’s Lindsey Hyde also supports flextime solutions in the present. Her female sta≠ find creative ways to balance work and family, and their partners and spouses are assuming more domestic responsibilities, too. “Women in my generation are asking their partners to be more involved, and considering that before entering a more serious relationship,” she says. “Is this somebody who’s going to support me in the choices that I make, whatever those choices may be?” Alpha girls won’t make the same mistake their mothers made, says Kindlon—“have a job and do 90 percent of the domestic stu≠.” They’ll tell their husbands or partners, “We’re going to split this. If you’re home, you’re going to change diapers the same way I do. If the house is dirty, either I’ll get used to it, or you’re going to help me out with it.” This generation won’t feel “it’s their work to do, as a lot of women today do”; as a result, men will pick up a bigger share and women’s lives won’t feel as unbalanced. “It’s very possible that my daughters will be the primary breadwinners in their homes,” Kindlon speculates. “They’re cer￾tainly not looking for a husband to provide for them!” Single mothers already carry that responsibility, but more married mothers will, too. In fact, “if the college-educated person is mak￾ing more money and has health benefits and the other person doesn’t, who’s going to cut back on the career? There’s no ques￾tion, I’ve seen it. I have nephews whose wives are working, and they’re staying home with the kids, because money’s behind it, and nothing’s stopping that trend.” (Some estimates number U.S. stay-at-home dads at 2 million.) “The real fuel for the engine is going to be that women will have more money, so they’ll have more of a say over what happens,” he adds. With parenting no longer “women’s work” alone, perhaps a true work/life balance is possible for men and women. For Hyde, a di≠erent responsibility is foremost. “One of the things that is really important for women of my generation to be cognizant of is that we have had tremendous opportunities and that it is incumbent on us to make sure that the young women— and young men—who are coming up behind us have access to those same opportunities. As people who have been so privileged to live in this time period, we really do have a responsibility to continue to make change moving forward.” Contributing editor Harbour Fraser Hodder, Ph.D. ’91, lives in central Massa￾chusetts. hen comes the critical, pivotal point of turning 30, when “you’ve got about 10 years left to have kids”—and alpha confidence falters. “All of a sudden my students start to think, ‘How am I going to reserve part of my energy, my self, my creativity, and my time, to T have kids?’ They get anxious