DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the challenges faced by working families in the United States due to the lack of supportive policies like paid family leave and affordable childcare. Experts and parents share their perspectives on how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, forcing many women to leave the workforce to care for children. The panelists discuss the need for structural changes, such as universal healthcare, basic income, and better support for families with special needs children.
The conversation also explores the potential for a 'parents' movement' to demand policy changes. Some panelists believe the pandemic has energized parents to become more politically engaged, while others caution that the immediate financial concerns and safety fears around childcare may be taking precedence for now. Overall, the episode highlights the urgency of addressing the care crisis and providing stronger social support systems for working families.
The episode features insights from various experts, including Alyssa Quart from the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, sociologist Tamara Mose, parent advocates Justin Rubin (ParentsTogether) and Jennifer Beale Saxton (Tot Squad), and single mother Deja Reed. Their diverse perspectives underscore the widespread impact of the care crisis and the need for collective action to bring about systemic changes.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The United States lacks supportive policies for working families, such as paid family leave and affordable childcare, compared to other developed nations.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the care crisis, forcing many women to leave the workforce to care for children.
- There is a need for structural changes, including universal healthcare, basic income, and better support for families with special needs children.
- The pandemic has energized some parents to become more politically engaged and potentially spark a 'parents' movement' to demand policy changes.
- However, immediate financial concerns and safety fears around childcare may take precedence for some families during the pandemic.
- Real-life stories from parents highlight the urgency of addressing the care crisis and providing stronger social support systems.
- There is a lack of empathy and understanding from institutions and policymakers regarding the challenges faced by working parents during the pandemic.
- Collective action and advocacy are needed to bring about systemic changes that support working families.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So I'm glad to see that there is some movement in that direction when we talk about potential new administration coming into play. But at the end of the day, we have not seen a big enough movement across the board when it comes to administration in pushing these things forward, even though we know they've had success, not even in different countries, but even when people pilots study them in cities across the USA, they have great success, especially the basic income endeavor.“ by Tamara Mose
- “Not at all. I've called and I was, and they cut it off before, you know, I even knew about it. Like, after I had sent them the pay stubs because, of course, my pay subs are at zero zero. I'm still employed with my company because.“ by Deja Reed
- “Well, for me, it's always seemed like a no brainer. Why does suddenly the public school system and public support of families and children start when kids are five? And obviously in some places now, in, say, New York City, where we have pre k, three k, sometimes that's changed, but it never includes infancy.“ by Alyssa Quart
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Episode Information
Better Life Lab
New America
10/24/20