Strict Scrutiny Stacking the Bench with Creeps & Kooks
Aug 4, 2025
Mark Joseph Stern, a senior writer at Slate and co-host of the Amicus podcast, discusses alarming judicial confirmations and the rise of threats against judges. Sociologist Jessica Calarco shares insights from her book on how women became America's safety net, highlighting the burdens of caregiving during the pandemic. The conversation dives into the lack of equitable support for caregivers and critiques historical policies that perpetuate gendered labor divisions. Their dialogue underscores the urgent need for a robust care infrastructure and the evolving role of women in society.
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Care as Unpaid Labor
- The U.S. care system relies on unpaid caregiving, especially by women, to maximize corporate profits.
- Financial capitalism depends on business models that externalize care as unpaid or underpaid labor.
WWII Childcare Innovations Lost
- During WWII, the Lanham Act funded affordable, high-quality childcare to support women entering the workforce.
- This system disappeared post-war as policies enforced traditional gender roles.
Gender Roles Reinforced Post-War
- Gendered myths justified pushing women out of workforce post-WWII to restore men's jobs.
- These myths re-legitimized traditional roles and justified discrimination against women.
