As we near the end of our course, one of the most striking things for me has been the ways in which oppression of women is such a multifaceted issue. Reflecting on something that was said at the Manifesta! Talk—that, despite the lives of men and women being pretty well-protected and equalized on paper it’s crucial to realize that the very systems of our society are working to disadvantage women.
In particular, it seems that financial issues compound and intersect to guarantee poverty, especially for already disadvantaged groups like the single mother. As Mink points out, women, especially women with children, are doubly disadvantaged. Our last readings discussed the lack of available, affordable childcare that forces women into an either-or position. It’s difficult to both nurture a family AND hold a job when maternity leave and babysitting aren’t reliable options.
However, Mink points out that most mothers, by the very virtue of being a mother, are performing some of the most important work available in society. Raising children and nurturing a family is a full-time job, no doubt about it. It is labor that is often exported to nannys and daycare facilities, but it is labor nonetheless. And yet, this labor remains undervalued and unpaid.
The stereotype that women are more suited to domestic life than men therefore reveals itself as a doubly nefarious. Not only does it physically limit women, it also (conveniently) keeps their labor from being financially productive and thus keeps them financially dependent on their husbands or their families or the system. As such, welfare for single mothers could arguably be seen, not as a handout, but as due payment for their labor.
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Mink's reading was also one of my favorites. I really appreciated how she explained that part of the issue in creating effective reform was the divide between women. She writes, "Part of the problem, I think, is that white and middle-class feminists-who are the mainstream of the women's movement- view mothers who need welfare as mothers who need feminism. They see welfare mothers as victims-of patriarchy, may- be of racism, possibly of false consciousness. They don't see welfare mothers as feminist agents of their own lives-as women who are entitled to and capable of making independent and honorable choices about what kind of work they will do and how many children they will have and whether they will marry. As a result, when many white, middle-class feminists weighed into the welfare debate, it was to prescribe reforms to assimilate welfare mothers to white feminists' own goals-principally, independence through paid employment." Upper class women gained more power in society when they were accepted into the workforce. However, women of lower classes have ALWAYS worked in the United States, and for them, the issue is more about the privilege to NOT work.
ReplyDeleteThis again reminded me of the Brown Bag I attended last year featuring CAP. The CAP advisers, in detailing the many struggles that their clients (mostly single mothers) face, explained that so many of the issues were due to the fact that policymakers were so removed from the situation. Quite obviously none of "them" have ever experienced poverty or welfare for themselves: they were foolishly unaware of the many obstacles a woman must overcome and hoops she must jump through in order to get aid. In order to fill out the paperwork, a woman likely has to miss a day of work. In order to get a job, a woman but have reliable transportation-- but not too reliable because otherwise that asset will render her overqualified for the program. The process is unnecessarily difficult and convoluted. CAP suggested that policymakers need to connect more with the people they are designing policy to affect, whether it be directly or through intermediaries like CAP.
I think Caitlin's ideas can be though of in a few different contexts. In a episode of Modern Family, the gay couple had to decide how to stay at home with their new baby, yet also make a living. While this scenario is by no means anywhere near the poverty level that Mink alludes to, I think it demonstrates that the burden of child-rearing and earning an income is something that affects all parents, whether male, female, gay, or straight. Just because there are two men in this situation, does not mean that their choices to work or stay at home were made any easier.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post I completely agree that welfare to a single mother should be viewed as less of a hand out and more of payment. Often times we overlook how hard motherhood can be, especially when you are a single mother trying to balance taking care of your child or children as well as holding down a job.
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