An Actual Right to Work Outside the Home or In It?

Thank you, Ann Romney. As a lifelong supporter of a woman's right to choice and labor, I feel that I owe her that much. I scoffed and rolled my eyes with every other feminist in the US when this whole "stay-at-home-moms-work" recognizing much to my frustration what this was about wasn't that labor inside the home being recognized as labor, but instead a nothing issue being made into something bigger. And it is quite simple, if we recognized feminized labor within the home as labor then domestic laborers would be paid a living wage and be able to unionize (I'm looking at you labor who as specifically excluded these workers) and perhaps more relevant to this: welfare mothers would no longer be forced into "workfare".

The WORK Act (The Women's Option to Raise Kids) was proposed by a few Democrats to allow welfare mothers to stay at home and raise their children. Under the current law, raising your own children does not count as labor, raising someone else's does though, but raising your own does not qualify you for TANF benefits. Some states have made exceptions for mothers with children under a year old. But I'm not aware of any state that doesn't enforce the rules about losing benefits if you have more children while receiving cash assistance.

This Act would allow mothers with children under age 3 to stay home with her children and continue receiving benefits. The Act is a direct result from the Ann Romney drama. President Obama and Candidate Romney emphasized how they feel that women who stay home with their children work. To which Representative Pete Stark (D-Calif) pointed out is unfair to have a different standard for low-income women. You don't say Stark? Stark told the Huffington Post:

"Mitt Romney was for forcing mothers into the workforce because he decided that 'all moms are working moms. I think we should take Mr. Romney as his most recent word and change our federal laws to recognize the importance and legitimacy of raising young children. That's why I'm introducing the WORK Act to provide low-income parents the option of staying home to raise young children without fear of being pushed into poverty."

Ok, so that isn't true, but I'm kind of with you in spirit. Welfare recipients live under the poverty line anyway or only above it through fancy accounting, but hell if I'm going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The WORK Act wouldn't level the playing field. Women would be sent right back into the workforce when their children turned 4. In 1994, Romney agreed with this,

"Once there are no preschoolers at home parents should work to receive welfare support. A child needs to see firsthand the dignity of work."

Guess being a stay-at-home-mom isn't work after 4 years old. Then again, it is so hard to tell because in 2002, Governor Romney said:

"I wanted to increase the work requirement. I said, for instance, that even if you have a child 2 years of age, you need to go to work. And people said, 'Well, that's heartless.' And I said, 'No, no, I'm willing to spend more giving day care to allow those parents to go back to work. It'll cost the state more providing day care, but I want the individuals to have the dignity of work."

Well, now I'm confused, but I've given up understanding these idiots a long time ago.

The supports of the WORK Act: Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga), Gwen Moore (D-Wis), Jim McDermott (D-Wash), Lynn Woosley (D-Calif), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill), and Rose DeLauro (D-Conn).

I haven't actually seen the bill yet. I only got word before I left work yesterday that this was even happening, and then Allison posted the HuffPo link. My preliminary thoughts are:

• Not a chance in hell this passes.
• If it did pass, would the years receiving benefits count against the maximum number of years you can receive benefits? 
• Reproductive restrictions in place, would they remain? Or could women have children while receiving benefits?
• The article makes it sound specific to women, are single fathers not afforded the same rights?

Think your job is depressing?

I saw this and had to talk about it. Mostly, because what English major didn't want to be a writer one day. Sometimes I still think about how awesome it would be, and my darling co-blogger is a teacher.

Health.com has a list of the most depressing jobs. They are as follows:

1. Nursing home/child care workers

2. Food service staff

3. Social workers

4. Health-care workers

5. Writers, entertainers, and artists

6. Teachers

7. Administrative staff support

8. Maintenance and grounds workers

9. Financial advisers and accountants

10. Salespeople

Personally, I love when they speculate that creative people just have more mood disorders to begin with. I wouldn't be depressed it I didn't feel compelled to smoke and drink when writing like every other writer ever. Anyway just something to make you smile...doom, doom, doom.

Additionally, I've have had a few of these jobs, and sometimes they just suck.

MIA

Oh, how I’ve neglected you and without cause…well maybe a little cause. I’ve moved! I am officially a resident of DC, so tourist: watch yourselves. I’ve also quit my job without one, which is a novelty in itself because those of you who know me understand my compulsive disorder requiring control over everything. It is working out though. I’ve found a new job, and start in a week and a half. I’m excited to be doing something I care about and in a field that will help with my Masters.

I’d like to take a moment and rail against Comcast, and this is entirely their fault and not my lack of computer knowledge. I’ve been without cable and internet for a week…the cable I can live without, but no internet. I feel like less of a person. So after our Comcast person was late, and that is late in respect to the massive amount of time they are allotted to get here. I still lack internet. I’m writing this in Word, with the hopes of traveling to a coffee shop and posting there. I am wasting away to nothing…and blaming Comcast for my lack of information on Lebron.

Speaking of: Lebron, Miami? WTF. We’re going to win without him just watch. Because we have a good team and no one player makes the team. Yeah, I said it. However, I wish him no ill will, and like all Cleveland sports fans I now have a post season team…just in case.

I’ll be back to commenting on the sad state of women and politics in this country and books once I have the internet.