To say it is not rare for women to have it all

[Sienna333]

I know quite a few women who are beautiful, in high paying jobs, married with DC'S and living in nice houses. Why then do some people say this is unusual and rare?

Having it all is a myth. Yes, you can do lots of things, but not all of them well. Something's got to give.

We just need to be very careful of any phrase that is applied to women and not men as there is always a sexist agenda. So the bottom line is men and women can both work full time and look after chidlren. Anyone who tries to con women into working few hours or giving up careers is doing them damage as in a few years they will find their husbands' careers have taken off and the man has probably taken off with a younger woman from work too whereas the woman is left with nothing as she bought into a myth that women must give up full time work when children come.

How many men do you know who "have it all" OP?

Yes but Oldie a lot of women, perhaps the majority, don't want to work full time if they have children. (I'm not among them - I happily work full time btw and I agree with you.)
That's quite apparent from this thread.
No one seems concerned about men being able to work part time in order to "have it all".
If women are being repressed in their careers by having children, we need to acknowledge that many if them are choosing that. We can tell them they've been socially conditioned and most won't care - because it's what they want to do.
I shared Maternity leave with my husband and it was great. The most common response from women was "don't tell my husband that - he's not getting any of MY maternity leave!"

Indeed, honey, that is part of our battle. Until we make half the maternity leave non transferable between the couple women will take longer off, get engrained at home as the one who is good with the children and at cleaning the loo and their careers will continue to play second fiddle to those of men.

*I'm not sure what is difficult to understand. We are always told it is impossible to have it all...
*
Because it is. You cannot be the most successful in your career until you are working all the hours you can. If these people are part time, they have not reached their potential? Until you're prime minister or the queen, there's always a promotion.
If they work at all they are not spending every valuable moment with their children. The balance between work and parenting will always mean neither can be 100%
Do I work overtime to get the career or all the money I can, or do I have a day off and get all the sleep I can?
What about friends? Being popular vs one true friend who will be there regardless? What if hubby is best friend?
The career you love or the one that allows you to work less?
ALL is not possible. It's a goal, a motivator, and as some have suggested outdated and subjective.

The person I know who springs to mind earns about 1/4 my salary as she works few hours in an unskilled job, also has a small business that is hard work, but gets to spend so much time with her dd. People would say I have more than her based on your criteria, but I certainly consider her to be in a enjoyable position to me.

Ops definition of ALL is clearly not everyone's definition despite her protestations that it is the generally accepted one.

I think it all depends on what you perceive as "having it all"

That's why I referred to "the man who has it all" Facebook page. The sexist claptrap that this phase embodies applied to men very funny. Worth a look.
"Men - are you thin enough to enjoy your holiday?"

But who is (supposedly) telling us we can't have it all? (Nobody ever told me that). If you define 'it all' as a nice home, husband and kids and enough money to live pretty comfortably, then loads of people have that!

If, however, you define it as all of the above but with a high-flying job earning a 6 figure salary, then no, not as many women do have that. But why assume they want that? I wouldn't particularly want a high-flying job with a 6 figure salary whether I had kids or not. Having 'it all' is only relevant if it us things you actually want.

I think having it all depends on what you want in the first place.

I think I've got the DP, house, secure financial situation, great social life, travel, and am taking big steps to develop my career. But I do not think I could have a child and all that stuff and still be relaxed/happy. Lucky for me I don't want a child.