There’s been a lot of talk this week about women thanks to Larry Summer’s remarks and Judith Warner’s book.

I’ve provided links to the discussion on the web, but haven’t waded in. In part, because I feel like I’ve already addressed many of these issues on the blog before. Terribly boring to repeat myself. I’ve also held myself back because I’ve been really busy this week.

Ian’s not feeling well. Runny nose and fever. He needs a lot of attention when he’s sick, like any two year old. But it’s also a bit worse, since he can’t talk. When he’s sick, he screams all the time in frustration. Too ill to nap, he hasn’t given me a break in days.

Also, Steve’s home this week to tear apart out kitchen. The walls are covered in Holly-Hobby-like wallpaper — cutesy brown flowers on the top and stripes on the bottom. I’ve been peeling it off for days, which is oddly satisfying. Sort of like picking dead skin off a sunburn. My dad and Steve have been hacking away at the floor with pitchforks to remove three layers of linoleum and two layers of plywood. At the bottom of the sedimentary layers of other homeowners, we found hardwood. I hope to paint it with Benjamin Moore Industrial White before the week’s over.

It’s been nearly impossible to write something coherent this week. Life’s intervening. But I’ve got Ian playing on Steve’s computer for the moment, so let me take a shot.

First, in response to the many claims that women don’t like politics, they don’t like the hardball interchange of ideas, and they prefer to talk about other topics. Ugggh!!! I can’t stand that shit. I love politics. I have the reputation of taking the opposite point of view of whatever group I’m with, just to get debate going. Just because I write about the cute guys on Lost and art, but doesn’t mean the op-ed page of the Times is wrapping my fish.

Am I typical? My family is more political than the average family, but there are a lot of other women out there who take joy in political exchange. The last time I taught Introduction to American Politics, 42 students were female and 8 were male.

And you should know that I’ve got some game. Give me some prep time, and I’ll kick your butt in a political debate. Really. Enough said on that.

So we have interest and ability on one side of town, and we have opportunity on the other. Here’s where I’ve faced some difficulties.

Others may have been less lucky, but I faced no problems with sexism until I had kids. I went through graduate school faster than most guys, and my professors treated me with as much respect as others. If I never had kids, I am sure that I would be on the tenure track somewhere.

But I had kids (with one needing extra TLC) and I suddenly, unexpectedly hit a brick wall. While they are young, I can not compete with the guys. Even if I had them in fulltime daycare, I wouldn’t be able to compete. I’m distracted. I’m busy. I’m tired.

Does this bother me? Hell, yeah. I’m like Mary Decker Tabb who’s been tripped by Zola Budd screaming in frustration as the pack runs by. I’ll never catch up.

Kids are the number one reason that women aren’t able to compete with the big boys. Not ability or interest.

Then there are all the women who cry when they have to go back to work, because they have to. These women who don’t want a career, but would rather be home. Their situation is a worse tragedy than the lack of women in high powered career positions.

What to do about it? McArdle and Podhoretz have pooh-poohed governmental solutions. I don’t know. Republicans don’t seem shy about upping government spending when it comes to their pet issues. But I’m not going to push this point, because I’m not sure if governmental programs can rectify these problems, which are far too huge.

(It’s time to get lunch ready for sick-boy and the flooring ripping guys downstairs. I’m going to post this even though it’s still rough and unfinished. )

Update: I just can’t finish this post. I seem to have gotten Ian’s cold and am feeling rather achy.