Malaklou's column disappointing

Shadee Malaklou's recent column in The Chronicle was deeply disappointing ("Happily Ever After, Part I," Jan. 24). We support her point that women privileged to attend this excellent university owe it to ourselves and society to use our education in a productive manner. However, it is incredibly disheartening that Malaklou believes that devoting time to family and children is an unproductive use of our resources. If an educated woman chooses to alter her career plans in favor of raising a family, she should not be criticized simply because it is not the career path for everyone. There is not a more honorable job than motherhood. Malaklou contends that "very few women will ever pursue the careers that Duke has prepared them for." Each year, women leave Duke on their way to Wall Street, medical and law schools, Teach for America, etc. These are strong women who will contribute to society the rest of their lives. Education is important to be a productive member of society, however altering your career for your family does not condemn you to unproductiveness, nor does it mean you are wasting your education. The several thousand females attending Duke should find it insulting that a fellow student could generalize us as "Southern belles" in search of merely a "MRS degree." That is certainly not why we are here. It is our hope that our daughters will be intelligent, ambitious young women who will view success not just through the lens of their careers, but through the relationships they will carry throughout their lives. Their personal success will not simply be judged by the number of figures on their pay check, but rather by how they impacted the lives of those around them.

Brooke Jandl

Trinity '08

Christiane Regelbrugge

Trinity '08