Ms. calls it paycheck feminism. I don't care what they call it. I'm just glad that so many people are talking about it. Here's a favorite blurb from the Ms. article, which argues that with women nearing 50% of the workplace, it's time to rethink the government policies that were designed for a (wildly) different time:
Since women have long been a near majority of the workforce, our government must have been developing women-friendly economic policies—right?
Wrong. Despite the demographics, the crucial U.S. government policies that provide economic security to American workers and their families were designed initially during the New Deal to fit that very different era. “Social insurance” programs—which today include Social Security, employer-provided (and tax-subsidized) health care and pensions, unemployment insurance and Medicare—as well as the 40-hour workweek were first established when only 10 percent of married women were in the paid workforce.
So what are the 5 changes they suggest?
- Stop making unemployment, retirement and other benefits contingent on steady, full-time work.
- Don't make flexible hours a barrier to health insurance, and do women more for health insurance. stop charging.
- Guarantee workers paid family and medical leave.
- Provide high-quality child care.
- Stop taxing women's income unfairly/disproportionately.
Is that what would be on your list? Anything missing? It's a fun - and important - list to build. IF we can make it happen. Good reason to join Family Forward Oregon on Facebook.
Read the full Ms. article here. It's worth it.
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