|
Greetings!
With the looming fiscal cliff approaching, I thought I'd share a snippet of one of my (Wo)man in Washington blog post with you discussing the affects of closing the budget gap.
Christmas trees are popping up around the Capitol, in front of the White House, and in the foyer of every K Street lobby shop. While snowmen and Santa are everywhere, the talk is anything but festive and joyful - for the moment, the term on everyone's lips is "shared sacrifice". As in, budget cuts will touch one and all. Taxes may go up from one end of the income scale to another. It's time to pull together and put the common good before personal interest. The problem is, the measures being discussed to close the budget gap won't affect men and women to the same extent, or in the same way. Frankly, women may end up sacrificing more, possibly much, much more. Read more
Also in this issue:
Regards,
The National Association of Mothers' Centers (NAMC) provides programs that empower mothers, fathers and caregivers to find solutions that work for their families, their work lives and their personal lives. |
|
 Why Do We Need Paid Family Leave NOW?
There are lots of reasons that working people in the US should have access to family leave when they need it. Here are 4 to remember:
- The paid labor force is now 49% female, and women still do most of the family carework - but the economy cannot function if we don't show up at work.
- Women in 2/3 of households earn as much or more than their spouses, or are single mothers.
- Four out of five children have no full time caregiving parent at home.
- The US has the only advanced economy without a national program guaranteeing some form of paid leave to workers -it's not rocket science if every other country has come up with a plan.
Two experts at the Center for American Progress, Sarah Jane Glynn and Heather Boushey, are proposing that a paid family insurance program could easily be created on the existing framework of the Social Security System. You can read their proposal for Social Security Cares right here.
|
|
Why Are So Many Single Parent Families Poor?
No Mystery Here!
 Karen Kornbluh has been an advocate for mothers and work/family policies from way back. She points out that 25% of all children live in single parent homes in the US, an unusually high number among industrial nations. We also rank as the country with the 3rd highest rate of single parent family poverty. The reason? In The Atlantic, Ms. Kornbluh lays the blame squarely on public policy failure - no reliable maternity leave, no paid sick leave, no affordable, high quality child care system. "Our lack of quality childcare and after-school programs puts these kids at risk and endangers the nation's future in a knowledge economy. Our lack of support for flexible work arrangements and Social Security credits for caregivers puts these parents at risk." Unpaid family caregiving, the economy, and public policy are all related. But the US continues to act as if that is not so.
|
| Motherhood and Murder Rates
It's true, many well-intentioned advocates argue that if mothers would only get and stay married, poverty, violence, incarceration rates, and most other social ills would decline. I say enough already! Mothers are blamed for way too much, especially considering the barriers and inequities they face, compared to fathers or non-parents. And now, happily, there is some data to back me up.
Blaming single parents for violence has long been a dog whistle talking point of the family values set, since the phrase "single parents" actually means "single mothers," and "single mothers" means "poor women." But now, it seems that some new data from Washington, DC is challenging that long-held assertion that the out of control vaginas of the 47% are leading to big, slutty crime rates - over the last 20 years, the murder rate in the District has dropped 75%, while the percentage of single mothers has remained steady. Sorry you got blamed for all that murder, poor ladies.
Those bad girls at Jezebel point to a Philip Cohen essay, Single Moms Can't Be Scapegoated for the Murder Rate Anymore.
|
|
Gender Matters In Everything - Including Violence
Not that we need another reason to speak out against domestic violence - in addition to its physical and emotional toll, it has a huge cost in economic terms as shown in recent research. About.com US Government Info reports: "The health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking, and homicide against women by their intimate partners exceeds $5.8 billion annually, according to a report just released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)." Instead of being a shameful, private secret, intimate partner violence is now seen as a public health issue which public policy can effectively address. "CDC is actively involved in ongoing efforts to prevent violence against women," said Sue Binder, M.D., CDC Injury Center Director. "This report provides information that is crucial in helping communities demonstrate the impact violence against women has on society."
|
Your Gift Makes a Difference for Families Mothers' Centers have helped thousands of families: - Make friends
- Learn from each other
- Find needed support
- Advocate for our children's needs
- Discover valuable resources
- Find creative ways to manage work and family responsibilities
- And so much more!
Please consider making a tax-deductable donation to the National Association of Mothers' Centers today. Thank you for making a difference! |
|
|
|
|
|
DONATE YOUR CAR
on Behalf of the
Mothers' Center
of Your Choice
or the NAMC!
|
|
|
