Brush Stroke
November 26, 2013
   
Greetings! 

An icy wind blows across the city as we prepare to welcome friends and family, or pack the whole crew in the van and head to the ol' homestead.  Before the holiday mayhem really hits, take a moment to think of yourself, what you're up against and the tools at your disposal.

 

When you get a minute of peace, go to our MOTHERS Book Bag group on Goodreads.com 
to find a book you'll want to curl up with.  And keep up with us...
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Best wishes,
 

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.
Check Out What's In This Issue
Why We Need More Moms in Congress.
Running From The Law
How Long Is That In Dog Years?
The USA as a Land of Opportunity for Women...Not
The USA as a Land of Opportunity for Women...Not
Your Gift Makes a Difference for Families

Did you see it?  Right there in the Sunday Review section, under the headline "Sunday Dialogue: Helping Women 'Lean In".  It's yours truly, engaging in a spirited give-and-take about why we must have paid leave, chid care, and pro-family policies in the good ol' US of A.  Read it and leap!

Anne Marie Slaughter is a name you should know.  Currently at the head of the DC think tank New America Foundation, Slaughter has been a Princeton University and Harvard Law Professor, a State Department higher-up, author, and mother of two.  She is a prominent speaker about our public policies and the short shrift they give to caregivers, and the magnitude of the change we have to bring about. As The Atlantic reports:  

Now we understand that women can compete," she said. "But really, we equally need to understand that men can care." That change, she said, will have to be "on the order of what we've seen around gay marriage, on the order of what we've seen around smoking.

 

DogYearsHow Long Is That In Dog Years?

Another Washington woman getting attention lately is New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.  She'll soon unveil the FAMILY Act, a bill to provide eligible workers with partially paid family/medical leave, long-established around the world but MIA in the US.  Getting Congress to pass a bill takes a l-o-n-g time, as noted in this American Prospect article, Gillibrand Steps Up for Working Women:

 

Though paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave have seen success on the state and municipal level, it will likely take years for the FAMILY Act-which Gillibrand's office plans to introduce in the Senate later this month-to be enacted. The FMLA was introduced in Congress every year from 1984 until it was finally passed and enacted in 1993. It was passed and vetoed by President George H.W. Bush in both 1991 and 1992. The current obstructionist political climate and the GOP's record on women-friendly legislation doesn't bode well for ease of passage either.
 

So commit for the long term - I'll let you know when it's time to call your MOC (that's wonkspeak for "members of Congress") and tell them how you feel about the FAMILY Act.  Watch this space!

InCommonWe Have So Much In Common!

I've been engaged in a dialogue in the New York Times about mothers and caregiving and what that does to a girl's bank account over the long haul (see link above!).  But those who care for sick spouses, aging parents, or a chronically ill or disabled family member are facing many of the same issues, and would benefit from many of the same policy measures.  On that topic, here's another snippet from a NYT blog post entitled Work, Women and Caregiving:


Most Americans regard caregiving as a family responsibility; our government sees it that way, too. But if caregiving pushes people out of the work force during what are often prime earning years, if it depresses their eventual Social Security income and increases the odds of an impoverished old age, particularly for women, that's a scary prospect - and a greater sacrifice than we can ask individuals to handle alone.

 

Gee, that just sounds so familiar...

What rights do you have as a pregnant woman?  Is taking illegal drugs while pregnant criminal child abuse?  What if you fall down the stairs when pregnant, go to the ER to check things out, and the doctor suspects you may have intentionally tried to end your pregnancy - is it legal to arrest you and put you in prison until the child is born?  Could you be compelled to have a Caesarean, even if you want a vaginal birth? Do laws intended to protect a "child" apply to fertilized eggs?  To fetuses?  The line between a mother's civil rights and the rights of her unborn baby can be awfully fuzzy.  It all stems from the "personhood" of the fetus, and it's an important constitutional question being debated in courtrooms around the country. You can listen to the audio of this Fresh Air radio program, or read the transcriptHeavy stuff.

Mothers with baby

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