A common thread I've found in my women friends receiving ADD diagnoses as adults is altruistic entry level work, sometimes growing with training, often growing just through practice, but always with an ability to take on the really ugly unpleasant aspects of whatever it is. With animals frequently, or nursing homes, community childcare we seem to be more willing than others to encounter literal shit and not lose the thread that this is valuable work that must be done and we are not too good to do it.
Rachel, that's a fascinating insight. I feel like just recently I've started to reject roles like this, as - as you point out - I was always doing them. I was also usually put with the "hard to work with kids" as a child on projects and always worked with everyone just fine. It's been a great skill set to utilize as an adult.
Yes I agree that while I myself understand the value and merit of this work, our society in general demeans anything associated with caring (especially in any intimate physical way) and so these are jobs that pay poorly and the scut work of the volunteer and mother. Being pressured or coerced into taking on responsibility that should be shared because "You're better at it" or "It's your nature" is an entirely separate issue and I think that's the case for many women, ADHD or not. I'd venture to say it might be even more guilt-inducing to us but I don't know, it's hard to separate the different factors at play.
A common thread I've found in my women friends receiving ADD diagnoses as adults is altruistic entry level work, sometimes growing with training, often growing just through practice, but always with an ability to take on the really ugly unpleasant aspects of whatever it is. With animals frequently, or nursing homes, community childcare we seem to be more willing than others to encounter literal shit and not lose the thread that this is valuable work that must be done and we are not too good to do it.
Rachel, that's a fascinating insight. I feel like just recently I've started to reject roles like this, as - as you point out - I was always doing them. I was also usually put with the "hard to work with kids" as a child on projects and always worked with everyone just fine. It's been a great skill set to utilize as an adult.
Yes I agree that while I myself understand the value and merit of this work, our society in general demeans anything associated with caring (especially in any intimate physical way) and so these are jobs that pay poorly and the scut work of the volunteer and mother. Being pressured or coerced into taking on responsibility that should be shared because "You're better at it" or "It's your nature" is an entirely separate issue and I think that's the case for many women, ADHD or not. I'd venture to say it might be even more guilt-inducing to us but I don't know, it's hard to separate the different factors at play.
So so true. 💯👍
Thanks Kimia, I haven't, but look forward to reading.