Wonder Women (Frames Series): Navigating the Challenges of Motherhood, Career, and Identity

by Kate Harris

There is a new reality for mothers in the 21st century-it's a different world with different goals than it was even a generation ago. As little girls, today's moms didn't grow up with ONLY dolls and toy kitchens and princesses and visions of idyllic domesticity and motherhood behind a white picket they were given these but also a little plastic doctor's bag and a coloring book full of potential careers to choose from. "You can be anything you want, child." It's a message of empowerment and it's beautiful. But, as many of those young girls grew up, a message that was once meant to convey opportunity has begun to feel like a pressure cooker. What once was "You can have it all" has now become "You need to have it all." You need to have the perfect job, the perfect husband, the perfect house, the perfect kids, the perfect play dates and craft nights and date nights and DIY Pinterest projects and #nofilter Instagrams.

What does it mean to be a mom in a world like that? Where does vocation fit into all this? What does a holistic idea of self fit in? Many women struggle with the decision to work inside the home or outside the home. How can you maintain a sense of self and motherhood in both decisions?

The reality is we can't really have it all - sometimes we will have to make choices. This Barna Frame explores the value and beauty in those constraints. Join Kate Harris, wife, mother, and the executive director of The Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation, and Culture, as she unpacks the identity questions, the economic realities, and the role of the church in your life as you feel compelled to be wonder woman.

Genres: Faith

86 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small, but powerful book is the best I've seen on the subject of women, family, work, identity, and the whole wide scope of responsibilities and relationships which make up our vocation in the world. Kate helps us understand the complexities and dimensions of our lives, and how to navigate them faithfully. She explores the meaning of vocation, coherence, constraint, creation, community, and consent, rather than stopping at the simplistic and overused idea of "finding balance." Her writing is rich, hearty, and oh, so helpful. Recommended for men and women both, as these are "everyone" issues. Bonus--a wonderful afterword by Andy Crouch.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate. Harris. Wins. Fantastic & brief walkthrough on how a vocation (emphatically that of a woman) is broader than an occupation and most certainly broader than a job. The illustrations, use of infographics, and sound writing clearly imprinted on my brain that limitations such as raising children & breastfeeding are the necessary boundaries to develop a true masterpiece.

[Becky Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing, perspective grounded in research, experience and Biblical truths on how all of the different hats women wear can coexist. Absolutely loved the chapter by Andy Crouch. Encouraging and thought-provoking read for all women.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at reframing the way women view themselves in the world. Rather than the constant push of do more, be more, it focused on looking at our lives holistically and trying to find and recognize what they call Coherence - the idea we can hold together the various, divergent aspects of our life comfortably under an umbrella, rather than dividing them into neat little pieces and trying to balance everything. It brings with the comfort that at times there are seasons but even within seasons we are free to explore and imagine and take little (and sometimes) big steps to figure our path forward.

All of this is of course, rooted in the idea that we are image bearers of God, and that as multi-faceted and multi-dimensional as He was, we are as well.

It's full of relatable stories and is a relatively easy read.

[RuthAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend: Yes

I feel like all of my reviews of the FRAMES Season 1: The Complete Collection are going to be the same: I loved the data! It’s really thought-provoking! So, let’s take that as a given. In this one, I was struck by the disconnect between women’s reported priorities and where they spend their time. It made me think about whether mine line up, too. I’m also mulling over the idea of coherence, that is, that my life and all its different parts should add up to a whole that makes sense.