Jessica Calarco from University of Wisconsin talks about how women have become America's safety net, exploring the economic gender gap and challenges faced. The podcast delves into the disparities in unpaid labor, societal expectations, and the importance of valuing care work. Discussions also touch on overcoming misconceptions and uniting for societal improvements.
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Quick takeaways
Unpaid care work contributes to the gender pay gap, hindering women's economic parity with men.
Women are often the default caregivers for children, the sick, and the elderly, leading to a significant amount of unpaid labor. This unpaid work contributes to the gender pay gap as it hinders women's career advancement and economic parity with men. Countries investing in supports to reduce gender gaps show improved economic growth.
Evolution of Women as America's Safety Net
Women becoming America's safety net can be traced back to historical events like the pushback after Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Neoliberal economists propagated the idea that social safety nets were unnecessary, leading to reinforced traditional gender roles and policies that hindered women's workforce participation. These gender norms persist today.
The Need for a Union of Care and Policy Changes
Valuing and redistributing unpaid care work equitably is crucial to addressing gender disparities and promoting sustainable caregiving. Recognizing the economic value of women's unpaid care work, estimated at over $600 billion annually, highlights the need for policy protections like a 'union of care' to support caregivers and ensure shared responsibilities.
Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. University of Wisconsin Sociologist Jessica Calarco discusses her book Holding it Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net. Hosts: Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. Producer: Paul Brennan.