Focus on Feminist Org: Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights

Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights

Location: U.S.

From their website:

In the past few decades women have made enormous progress, but many women who become mothers have been left behind. The work of caring for children and other dependent family members is still unpaid or grossly underpaid, disrespected, and unacknowledged by all of the major institutions in our society. We believe that correcting the economic disadvantages facing caregivers is the big unfinished business of the women's movement.

Neither the workplace, family law, nor government puts much if any economic value on the all-important work of caring for others. The government does not even recognize unpaid labor in the home as "work," so family caregivers, unless they are employed, are left out of the basic social safety net. The effect of this disregard is clear: motherhood has become the single greatest risk factor for poverty in America. The United States has the highest rate of maternal and child poverty of any advanced country. And millions of middle class mothers are economic dependents, despite the fact that they are the primary producers of our most important source of national wealth: our future citizens, taxpayers, and workers.


Q: If I don't have any children, why should my tax dollars go to support other people's? Isn't having children a personal choice, and a personal responsibility?

A: Even if you do not have children, it is in your best interest to support the people who are producing our future workforce. Other people's children will pay for your Social Security, police your streets, and possibly even care for you in your old age. Further, we advocate support for all caregivers, not just mothers, including all those who care for an elderly parent, or a sick or disabled spouse or loved one. All people need some kind of care during their lifetimes, and most of us become caregivers ourselves, so virtually everyone suffers when caregiving is penalized or neglected.