I fit Linda's bare bones definition of "elite." I have degrees, good ones, an undergraduate degree in English (with honors!) and journalism from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. An MBA from Wharton. Early on - as early as kindergarten - I chose to be a career woman. I started out in investment banking. Then I got a passion for management, I got my MBA and started working for startups of various flavors. I did analysis, finance, product development, marketing, capital raising, operations, human resources, photography, web site design, you name it.

My husband fits Hirshman’s requirements, oddly enough - he was in a less prestigious job than I when we met, he is less educated than I, he embraces the laundry and washing dishes. He loves our children and cares for them whenever I require him to. He adores me.

When I started having children, I was an executive at a small direct marketing firm. I loved what I did, although I wasn’t totally jazzed about the work environment. When I left that job, it was because my new role as mama didn’t fit in with the demands of my bosses. They wanted me to care more about their spreadsheets than my baby’s happiness (reasonable given the amount of money I was being paid? maybe.). I cared more about the baby’s happiness.

Soon after I left that job, I started making demands of bosses. I wanted to work flexible hours, at least part time from home. And soon I had cobbled together a life in which I was working 90% from home. I was making less, it’s true, than my salary would be had I taken that job at Merrill Lynch in New York City. I’m making about 20% of what I might, was I in my original career track. But I’m thoroughly happy. My expenses are very low. And I’m forging a career still.

My career isn’t financial now. But I’m doing something else I’d always dreamed of doing - writing and editing parenting and food publications. Sure, I imagined myself in a print publication. But that was before blogs. I’m actually moving forward in my career, by leaps and bounds. And I love, love, love what I do. It’s both good and important. It could create some truly significant income down the road. It doesn’t sidetrack me from anything I’d hoped to do.

But I have two kids now and I plan for more. My husband supports me in everything I do. I’m - sort of - staying home with the kids. I have a full and flourishing home life. My mind is always working, I’m meeting people that astound and amaze me. Most of them are moms, many who stay at home with their own children.And in my life, feminism is most definitely NOT dead.