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May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
WHY THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD IS STILL THE LEAST VALUED
by Ann Crittenden, author of The Price of Motherhood
The most important job, even economists agree, is raising the next generation. This is still predominantly women’s work, and they are still unpaid, badly paid, and often disrespected for doing it. Caring for others, especially for children, is so taken for granted, especially in the U.S., that having a baby is the single worst financial decision an American woman can make.
Take jobs. They are designed ideally for people who have no family life—or can delegate the family work to someone else. As a result, after they have children many women either work part-time or leave paid employment altogether. Often this is not their preferred choice; it’s a path they are forced to take because of workplace rigidities. And it costs women dearly: a college-educated woman with one child can easily pay a “Mommy tax” (lost lifetime earnings) of $1 million.
Married mothers also soon discover that marriage is not an equal financial partnership. The typical American mother is economically dependent on her spouse, andhas no claim on his income in the event of divorce. She and the children face a serious risk of poverty if the marriage ends—a risk that most fathers don’t face.
Social policy does little to insure these risks or reward mothers for their economic contribution. Nannies earn Social Security credits; mothers do not. They earn a zero for every year they spend caring for family members. This means that motherhood is the single biggest risk factor for poverty in old age.
This treatment of mothers is an anachronism. We need to stop sentimentalizing mothers and other caregivers and start according their work the respect and material recognition that it deserves—and earns. I believe that this is the big unfinished business of the women’s movement.
So check out Momsrising.org.
On a lighter note, we got up early today and I was treated to some nice gifts from Adam and Lilybug. From Adam, a copy of The Motherhood Manifesto (and the great coffee Moms Rising was bundling with the book as a fundraising promotion). From Lily I got a jar of jalapeno-stuffed olives. She had picked these out herself, which was sweet, except for her insistence that we open them right away so that Mommy could share these olives with her.
Next, we had a nice breakfast at Suze's Cafe. The Mother's Day breakfast special was asparagus quiche with hollandaise sauce. Yummy!!! Other than that, we're just relaxing today and finishing up the painting in my office. Photos soon!
Posted by mwashburn at May 13, 2007 02:58 PMPosted to mommyhood