DeepSummary
The episode begins with a discussion of the 1975 Women's Day Off in Iceland, where women across the country took a day off from paid work, housework, and childcare to protest gender inequalities. This event ultimately led to policy changes in Iceland that strengthened the social safety net and improved opportunities for women. Jessica Calarco, a sociologist and author of the new book 'Holding It Together,' is then interviewed.
Calarco explains how in the early 20th century, corporate and business interests in the US pushed back against the expansion of social programs by promoting neoliberal economic theories that advocated for a 'DIY' society without a strong safety net. She discusses her interviews with mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed the immense burden placed on women to manage paid work, childcare, and household responsibilities when support systems broke down.
The interview explores how beliefs in meritocracy and the 'DIY' society persist, often providing personal benefits to those who uphold them, even when they may not align with their own interests. Calarco argues for policies like universal childcare, paid family leave, and other supports to create a more equitable distribution of unpaid labor and care responsibilities.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Women, especially mothers, have effectively replaced the social safety net in the United States due to historical factors and lack of supportive policies.
- Beliefs in meritocracy and the 'DIY' society persist, often providing personal benefits to those who uphold them, even when they may not align with their own interests.
- The burden of unpaid labor and caregiving responsibilities falls disproportionately on women, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and breakdown of support systems.
- Policies like universal childcare, paid family leave, and other supports are needed to create a more equitable distribution of unpaid labor and care responsibilities.
- Collective action and organizing can potentially challenge the status quo and push for positive social change and stronger safety net policies.
- Parenting challenges are not solely individual failings, but are shaped by larger societal structures and lack of support systems.
- Other countries have implemented policies and programs that better support caregiving and gender equality, demonstrating that change is possible.
- The persistence of 'DIY' ideologies and resistance to a stronger social safety net is complex, involving political influences, personal incentives, and sociological factors.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I talk in the book about a mom that I call April, who's a white republican mom and who really strongly objects to any sort of efforts to strengthen the social safety net, despite the fact that her family only makes about $30,000 a year. Her husband's a pastor at their church, and they would benefit from most of these broader programs.“ by Jessica Calarco
- “I think the key thing to remember is it's not you, it's society. And so much of the kinds of advice and pressure that we face as parents is about, okay, if you only took these seven steps, if you only followed this right way of parenting or this right way of being, you and your kids would be happy and successful, and you won't have to worry about anything anymore.“ by Jessica Calarco
- “So letting go of some of that guilt, letting go of some of that pressure and stress around parenting and recognizing that there's a lot of forces that are outside of your control, but that actually the thing that we can control is how we collectively engage with others and potentially harness some of that kind of negative self energy toward collective organizing, toward trying to find ways to, you know, maybe there's a parent in your social group who is interested in running for local, and so you can all work together on their campaign.“ by Jessica Calarco
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Episode Information
Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show
Slate Podcasts
6/3/24