A woman never leaves home, even if she's on Supreme Court

Letter To the Editor of the NY Times:
Re "Personal and Political Concerns Lie in a Closely Held Decision" (news article, July 2):
There is a poignancy to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's resignation on the ground that her ailing husband needs her. That the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court steps down because of family responsibilities is powerful evidence that regardless of how exalted the position, the unique ties that bind women to their families don't disappear.
There is a parallel to how a dear friend, a noted religious philosopher, described her graduate school years, when she was juggling her academic responsibilities while raising three small children: when she was home, she thought of nothing but Descartes. When she was in class, she thought of nothing but diapers.
Barbara Finger
Sheldon Landesman
Kew Gardens, Queens, July 4, 2005