Quick Hit: When Opting Out Isn't an Option
Don't miss this great group of articles over at The American Prospect about women's economic opportunities and the recession. An excerpt:
It is time for a different conversation about working women--one that considers the choices and careers of professional women with children, yes. But one that devotes far more time and energy to the needs of the majority of women workers--those without advanced degrees or professional salaries who must work to support their families--and to crafting policies that work for them.
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That is a great series of articles. Thanks for posting it.
It is definitely the case that most working women are not empowered, but are doing because they have to. Many are single mothers who are burning themselves out and damaging their health with stress.
Great articles, but I have just one small bone to pick. I really dislike that not working outside the home is always framed as an 'option' that is really just a euphemism for 'luxury.' While I know that a large segment of women do have to work to meet even basic needs, there is another segment of women who want to work (or for whom work would vastly better their lives in being able to save money for their kids' educations, their OWN educations, retirement, etc..) but who can't afford childcare, which is just ridiculously expensive in some places. They may be able to just about scrape a basic living off their partner's salary or with a combination of welfare and family/friends' help but it doesn't mean they are living in the lap of luxury and have chosen this 'option' as breezily as people imagine.
Until we acknowledge that sometimes opting IN is not an option either, because of prohibitive childcare costs, there will always be a distinct dismissive air aimed at stay-at-home moms in feminism.