The problem is our society has shamed the concept of a household member that exclusively takes care of domestic work. My wife has been shamed by numerous others for being 'just a housewife.' We...
The problem is our society has shamed the concept of a household member that exclusively takes care of domestic work. My wife has been shamed by numerous others for being 'just a housewife.' We did the math one day, and I'd she was paid the going commercial rate for everything, she'd be earning 1.5x my salary.
It extends far beyond just childcare. Entire industries rest on a foundation of filling the void a domestic household member fills. Landscaping, cleaning, shopping, and minor home repair just to name a few.
We should be incentivizing having only one full-time household employee. The other should be a domestic worker.
Just to be 100% explicit, either role can be performed by any gender. My friend will be a househusband after their child is born since his wife is a doctor and he is an underpaid engineer. Because they did the math and realized he would just be working to pay for needed household services.
I suspect the issue has less to do with any shaming going on, and far more to do with people simply not being able to afford to have only one "bread winner" in the family. Inflation adjusted...
The problem is our society has shamed the concept of a household member that exclusively takes care of domestic work.
I suspect the issue has less to do with any shaming going on, and far more to do with people simply not being able to afford to have only one "bread winner" in the family. Inflation adjusted average household incomes haven't really risen in decades for the vast majority of people, despite both parents working now being far more common, and the income of the top 5% skyrocketing.
This is also very true. But there is has also been a stigma for stay-at-home parents for quite some time, even if only anecdotal within my social circles. 'Why would you settle for being just a...
This is also very true. But there is has also been a stigma for stay-at-home parents for quite some time, even if only anecdotal within my social circles. 'Why would you settle for being just a housewife?' was a fairly common phrase heard for awhile.
It's nice seeming some people being forced to re-connect with their kids with the COVID lockdowns. Perhaps it will provide the political will to push needed policy to enable wages to rise again.
Oh, for sure... I didn't mean to discount your experiences or reject your suggestions, so sorry if it came off that way. Though worth noting is that there is also stigma the other way in some...
Oh, for sure... I didn't mean to discount your experiences or reject your suggestions, so sorry if it came off that way. Though worth noting is that there is also stigma the other way in some circles too. E.g. After my sister had my nephew she used to get "Why are you going back to work? You just had a kid!" and "Wouldn't you rather stay home and raise him properly?" from some of her friends and old coworkers as well, which would really piss her off. :P
Definitely, there is often a sexism present in that reverse case. The people espousing it are rarely directing it to the fathers. If it was equally applied, I would agree with both...
Definitely, there is often a sexism present in that reverse case. The people espousing it are rarely directing it to the fathers. If it was equally applied, I would agree with both statements....daycare is not a good substitute for a stable family environment.
Why are you going back to work? You just had a kid!
This one especially should be true for all parents. Full maternal/paternal leave for everyone. I'm noticing a distinct correlation with time taken off after childbirth and being more involved with their child later on.
Again, I think $ is the common factor there. People who can afford to take extra take time off work after childbirth are more likely to be able to afford to spend more time with their kids in...
correlation with time taken off after childbirth and being more involved with their child later on
Again, I think $ is the common factor there. People who can afford to take extra take time off work after childbirth are more likely to be able to afford to spend more time with their kids in general.
And totally agree on maternal/paternal leave. Canada has okay parental leave length and pay policies, but nowhere near as good as in some of the Nordic countries. I feel horrible for people in the US in that regard though, since their nonexistent one is absolutely pathetic. :(
The median pay in this field is $24,000 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And this does not include the large number of workers who do the job off the books — with no benefits and often at lower wages. The average annual cost of infant care: $9,600 for family care, which is often home-based, and $15,000 for center-based care. This poses a huge dilemma for childcare workers who have children of their own.
The problem is our society has shamed the concept of a household member that exclusively takes care of domestic work. My wife has been shamed by numerous others for being 'just a housewife.' We did the math one day, and I'd she was paid the going commercial rate for everything, she'd be earning 1.5x my salary.
It extends far beyond just childcare. Entire industries rest on a foundation of filling the void a domestic household member fills. Landscaping, cleaning, shopping, and minor home repair just to name a few.
We should be incentivizing having only one full-time household employee. The other should be a domestic worker.
Just to be 100% explicit, either role can be performed by any gender. My friend will be a househusband after their child is born since his wife is a doctor and he is an underpaid engineer. Because they did the math and realized he would just be working to pay for needed household services.
I suspect the issue has less to do with any shaming going on, and far more to do with people simply not being able to afford to have only one "bread winner" in the family. Inflation adjusted average household incomes haven't really risen in decades for the vast majority of people, despite both parents working now being far more common, and the income of the top 5% skyrocketing.
See: https://www.advisorperspectives.com/images/content_image/data/82/82bfc15008dd38488a7ec33b3ccd266b.png
This is also very true. But there is has also been a stigma for stay-at-home parents for quite some time, even if only anecdotal within my social circles. 'Why would you settle for being just a housewife?' was a fairly common phrase heard for awhile.
It's nice seeming some people being forced to re-connect with their kids with the COVID lockdowns. Perhaps it will provide the political will to push needed policy to enable wages to rise again.
Oh, for sure... I didn't mean to discount your experiences or reject your suggestions, so sorry if it came off that way. Though worth noting is that there is also stigma the other way in some circles too. E.g. After my sister had my nephew she used to get "Why are you going back to work? You just had a kid!" and "Wouldn't you rather stay home and raise him properly?" from some of her friends and old coworkers as well, which would really piss her off. :P
Definitely, there is often a sexism present in that reverse case. The people espousing it are rarely directing it to the fathers. If it was equally applied, I would agree with both statements....daycare is not a good substitute for a stable family environment.
This one especially should be true for all parents. Full maternal/paternal leave for everyone. I'm noticing a distinct correlation with time taken off after childbirth and being more involved with their child later on.
Again, I think $ is the common factor there. People who can afford to take extra take time off work after childbirth are more likely to be able to afford to spend more time with their kids in general.
And totally agree on maternal/paternal leave. Canada has okay parental leave length and pay policies, but nowhere near as good as in some of the Nordic countries. I feel horrible for people in the US in that regard though, since their nonexistent one is absolutely pathetic. :(
Edit: Apparently Canada is roughly middle of the pack, right next to Italy and Iceland.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/16/u-s-lacks-mandated-paid-parental-leave/