Ep 426: How Women’s Work Holds America Up

Here’s one thing we know — America runs on women – our paid work, our caregiving work, and our invisible work keeps the country going — and it’s taking its toll. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America survey, women say they’re feeling stressed, misunderstood, and alone. The survey also found that women were more likely to say they “strongly agree” that no one understands how stressed we are and we were less likely to report that we can get over our stressors quickly. 

Jessica Calarco is a sociologist who’s dedicated her life’s work to understanding how America got this way, despite being consistently ranked one of the wealthiest countries in the world. In her new book Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net, she explains how our “DIY society” came to be and strategies for women to collectively come together to support each other in a country where caregiving falls mostly on our shoulders. 

In Mailbag, we hear from a listener who is looking for advice on how to handle her emotions in the workplace. We also hear from someone who’s in the running for a position with a pension and wants to know what the pros and cons are should she accept the job. 

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Chapters:

00:00:00: Introduction 

00:06:52: The Role of Women in Holding Society Together

00:14:49: Current Childcare Crisis and Its Implications

00:19:11: Gender Wage Gap and Household Labor Dynamics

00:26:51: Practical Steps for Individual Women to Improve Their Situations

00:29:57: Importance of Collective Action

00:30:34: Transition to Mailbag Segment

Takeaways: 

• Women in America have become the safety net for families and communities, taking on the roles of caregivers and filling low-wage jobs.
• The US is a DIY society where individuals are expected to solve their own problems rather than rely on the government or employers for support.
• The lack of affordable childcare and the shift in employer benefits have put tremendous pressure on families, particularly women.
• Marriage is not the key to financial success and can often trap women in difficult or dangerous relationships.
• Solutions include advocating for affordable childcare, paid family leave, and other policies that support caregiving, as well as challenging mythical thinking and promoting collective action.

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