Q & A: Amy Richards, author of 'Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself'

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In her new book Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself, Amy Richards explores the tricky landscape of motherhood in the 21st Century. Richards, age 38, who is the mother of two young boys, is a well-known feminist and a leader in the Third Wave movement. She is also is the cofounder of Soapbox, a progressive speakers bureau. BusinessWeek editor and Mommy Track'd columnist, Lauren Young, recently caught up with Richards to talk about her new book, focusing on the issues affecting working parents. Here are edited excerpts of our conversation:

Q. The first chapter of your book is titled: “To Work or Not to Work Is Not the Question.” So why does the all-or-nothing approach get so much ink?

A. There are two reasons why. It’s an upper-middle class dilemma. As a society we are more focused on that demographic. We are most invested in that community—what are they doing—and base our choices on what they’ve made acceptable or not. It also masks a much deeper question: Do we want to work? The majority of us not only need to work financially. Most of us want something beyond the monotony of our homes and the joy of our children.

Opting In on Shine

Q & A: Amy Richards, author of 'Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself'