vainglorious

Undecided Women, Don’t be Fooled: Your Control of Birth IS ABOUT Jobs

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:24:25 -0500

Undecided Women, Don’t be Fooled: Your Control of Birth IS ABOUT Jobs:

Women, especially young childless undecided women voters, are talking about jobs, not abortion rights, right? What women really care about is not contraception, not access to family planning resources, not social issues like gay marriage, abstinence-only sex “ed” or Mitt Romney’s 50 year old bullying. Nope – it’s the economy. Women, “like everyone else,”– that would the norm – men, just want to be able to go to work, earn a fair wage and support their families. These “social” things are a “distraction” leading Americans to avert their gaze from what’s really important: the economy. Polls are clear: jobs and the economy are their number one concerns.

This oft-repeated juxtaposition, superficial and irresponsible, between The Economy and Social Issues (especially, in polls, “jobs” and “contraception”) is like a political media Greek chorus. People believe it, especially women who are disinclined to think about themselves as discriminated against by virtue of their sex. Young women answer these questions and pollsters ask them the way they do based on the assumption that women, armed with education and “girl power,” have equal access to newly created jobs and will be paid fairly for their work. Those are false assumptions that women, especially young childless ones, need to consider before they vote, because this year’s elections, both state and presidential, will affect their ability to do both for years to come.

We’re engaged in a mass delusion that misleadingly pits The Economy against what are at their core, Reproductive Rights. Don’t be fooled when considering who to vote for – women can’t participate equally in the first until they have the second. The very phrasing of the questions and the reporting of the answers hide the complex and interdependent relationship between the two. Contraception, reproductive rights, gay marriage (defined as it is by conservatives as a threat to male/female hierarchies) – all have critical implications for women’s economic well-being and for the economy at large.

Insistence on splitting these two concerns is particularly useful to Republicans, because it allows them toblame women’s economic woes on their “choices,” a specific irony. If a woman gets paid less or doesn’t have a “seat at the table” it’s because she chose a lower paying job, or because she chose to have children and works part-time, or she chose to not complete her education. If women make “bad choices” it’s their own fault, their decisions and they have to pay the consequences. Which gets us to the second half of this equation. Simultaneously, for the “less important” Social Issues, the word “choice” is completely anathema to Republican legislators and presidential hopefuls. Girls and women cannot possibly be trusted with “choices” when it comes to their own bodies, sex ed, birth control, health care, sexuality, domestic violence and marriage.

Most importantly, however, in terms of the economy, is that what all of these secondary-in-importance social issues boil down to is that women especially cannot be allowed to “choose” for themselves when to become mothers – arguably the single most important contributing factor to their, and our economies, long-term well-being.

What single factor arguably has the greatest impact on a woman’s work life? In other words, what enables women to participate in the economy and become productive workers and engines of economic growth and expansion?

That would be motherhood.

So, even single, childless, undecided women who may one day get pregnant, should consider what happens to a woman when she gives birth:

She is 44% less likely to be hired

She makes 11% less than her non-mother female counterpart (who is already just making 78cents to the male dollar)

She is less likely to go to school or complete her education.

She works part-time with more frequency, so that she can provide child care for which she is uncompensated and can derive no benefits as child care is invisible labor.

She is less able to work overtime.

She is unable to get maternal health care coverage as part of a basic insurance policy. Already discriminated against by gender rating in insurance prices, she is now doubly financially harmed by the fact of her parenthood.

She is more likely to have to limit herself to lower paying job sectors where she thinks she will have more “flexibility” even though this has been proven not to be the case.

She is more likely to be impoverished and become state dependent.

And, what is motherhood? In it’s simplest terms, it is reproduction.

Control of reproduction is an economic issue. This isn’t an academic abstraction, it is a practical reality for any human endowed with a uterus.

This is why instead of The Economy and Social Issues being unrelated as people keep suggesting, they are integrally related. The very nexus of The Economy and Social Issues then, from a policy perspective, is the question “Do you believe women should work, for (fair) pay and outside of the home?” Republicans do not. That’s why their dedication to controlling female sex and reproduction is an economic policy choice – it affects women’s abilities to pursue education, get hired, be paid, stay in the workforce.

If you believe yes women should be able to work and be paid fairly outside of the home, then you do everything possible to create family friendly work structures, fair pay regulations, health care access, planned parenting provisions, that enable women to do just that. If no, then you don’t. You do the opposite. You create a disabling “social issue” legislative scaffold on which to build a “it’s your own fault” Temple to Patriarchy. This is precisely what the Republic party is doing.  If you are an undecided woman voter you should pause to consider the impact of these intersections on your own life and the lives of other, often far less privileged, women.

As it is now, even for a woman who has access to birth control, health care, safe and legal abortion, becoming a mother in this country, planned or unplanned, is the single worst economic decision a woman can make. She is still cobbled by inadequate health care, higher gender-rated insurance premiums, discriminatory pay, poor return on her educational investment, greater responsibility for child care and an inability to save effectively for security in her old age.

Republicans have shown repeatedly and without remorse that they want to keep women vulnerable, dependent and at home:

Lilly Ledbetter? What’s that? “Money is more important for men.” I finally support it, but (wink, wink) my surrogates will make sure it never happens.  Fair Pay in Wisconsin? Don’t want to force employers to prove they are paying women fairly. Definitely don’t want to “clog up the legal system” unless, of course, it’s to send black boys and men to jail.

Domestic Violence? Let’s make sure the Abuser Lobby  is happy, given the mail order bride business and more, and ensure that women most vulnerable to violent abuse are isolated and left even more at the mercy of mostly men who will rape and beat them without recourse to the law.

Reproductive Freedom? Let’s pursue husbandry-informed blunt force trauma legislation ensuring that women’s bodies and reproduction stay in the control of men. Eliminating Planned Parenthood, making it hard to find birth control and abortion services, mandating transvaginal ultrasounds that women themselves have to pay for, requiring waiting periods that require expensive travel – all of these things impede women’s freedom and ability to compete fairly in the job market.

Health Care: What, you mean the stuff that keeps people healthy and able to go to work? Hell, no. We’ll not only fight against affordable health care (the opposite of which is unaffordable health care) but we will also stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood, even including monies dedicated to non-abortion services like…family planning – often the only services that poor women have access to. Title IX? The only federal program devoted to family planning, you almost cannot make this up it’s so ridiculous: Romney will eliminate it entirely, to save money for The Economy.

And yes, even Mitt Romney’s 50 year old bullying of a gay boy. Why? Because the exact same attitudes that informed that incident inform his support of abstinence-only education, gendered societal roles, fair pay provisions, reproductive freedom – namely, there are rules, boxes which people are supposed to fit into – and when they don’t conform to his world view they should be punished and forced to. The roots of his high-school bullying escapades and his “Social Issue” policies both reside in an inability to empathize with people who don’t look like and sound like him. It’s why he saw nothing wrong in explaining that Ann Romney was responsible for translating females. Empathizing with women is just not a possibility if you’re a man.

All of these issues profoundly affect women’s ABILITY TO ENGAGE FULLY AND EQUALLY IN THE ECONOMY WITHOUT PENALIZATION. If Republicans were serious about their commitment to women’s unimpeded equality in the workplace, then they would not insist that “social” policies are unrelated to “the economy” and they would not be pursuing broad legislation that affirmatively harms women’s ability to participate in the economy on multiple levels. Basic control over her own body, that would be reproductive freedom and health care that is affordable, non-discriminatorily priced, and relevant to her body and not men’s, affects whether a woman can seek and complete her education. The type of job she can get. How many hours she can work. If she can afford to start a business. Whether or not she can work full time or has to work part time. Whether she can afford childcare and health care, if she works. Whether she can safely leave an abusive spouse without fear for her children and seek work to support herself.

That’s why Social Issues, like contraception, are ABOUT The Economy not separate from it.

Read the whole thing.

misconceptions

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:20:00 -0500

So I am me, sure. But sometimes I worry I am too me for new people? I’m afraid people think I talk about sex all the time because I want people to like me more? Not really. I just am like this. I’ve always been like this. I cannot help it. Shit flies out of my mouth and then like, I am immediately embarrassed. Many, too many, examples of this.

I am fine with living in Chicago. Before I moved here I was feeling very unsettled in Atlanta. I had lived there my whole life (save the time I spent in Athens, which I was back and forth to Atlanta A LOT and there’s not a huge difference in the two, people-wise at least), and I love my friends and my family and everything about my city, but it was time. This job was my out. I don’t know if that will upset anyone, but for all the great memories in Atlanta, there were also many bad ones. I needed to make a change and this one was free and just laid at my feet.

That being said, this has not been easy. If you do read all 4.5 years of my blog, my melodramatic whinging is a theme and in person I am less crazy, this is my outlet, certainly. But lately I’ve felt like I’m on an emotional roller coaster. Missing my family, missing my friends, not knowing how to get places or knowing about places. There are certain factors that have exacerbated these ups and downs but that situation would likely never have happened in Atlanta. One minute I’m thrilled with new friends and new experiences and the next I’m feeling raw and hollow and misunderstood. It’s getting so much better, but shit takes time.

This year has not been the worst of my life — AT ALL — not even close. It cannot compare to when I was on probation or kicked out of school or in bad relationships or anything close to that. But this has felt like the hardest in a way because it’s not my doing. I had to make a choice, be unemployed in Atlanta or employed in Chicago and I’m constantly questioning whether that was the right choice, though I’m pretty positive it was, and I find myself getting too hung up on, what’s next? How long do I stay?

I usually have to force myself to focus on the here and now. I do daily inventories: how do I feel today? what mistakes did I make? what were my successes? what do I need to do tomorrow? And that helps. It does! But in general I get hung up on, what’s my next career move? How long will I be in this city? etc. It can get exhausting.

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned about myself since moving here is that I was more chill in Atlanta … or at least, it seems so. I don’t know if I’m different or if life just seems more high-stakes of late.

nightmarebrunette: And Then You — Greg Laswell and Tupac, by...

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:56:10 -0500

nightmarebrunette:

And Then You — Greg Laswell and Tupac, by Mother Earth

This is perfect.

just gonna put this out into the universe

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:26:00 -0500

this is what “the secret” is for right?

Bought my first box o’ wine today. It’s all downhill...

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:04:49 -0500

Bought my first box o’ wine today. It’s all downhill from here I guess. (Taken with instagram)

joaniepepperoni replied to your post: Would you like to LAUGH? Like out loud and...

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:53:26 -0500

joaniepepperoni replied to your post: Would you like to LAUGH? Like out loud and shit?…

seriously Jen is the worst I don’t know how I feel about Joey yet really but I love Pacey even though he’s an idiot. Dawson is such a pussy bitch though it’s annoying.

YES on Dawson. The worst.

Also. Stephanie. Never tell me how old you were when this originally aired. Okay. Thanks.

Would you like to LAUGH? Like out loud and shit? Seriously. Dawson’s Creek. I love this show...

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:47:19 -0500

Would you like to LAUGH? Like out loud and shit? Seriously. Dawson’s Creek. I love this show but it is so cheesy and melodramatic and amazing. Why does anyone like Dawson? Joey and Jenn are both pretty much the worst. Everyone is so self-important. … hmmm … Maybe this show had more of an impact on my personality than I thought? I was 15 when it started and remember thinking it was pretty cray then. Or maybe I’m lying. Who knows!

But watch. Laugh. Enjoy the Savage Garden and the bad Abercrombie & Fitch styling.

Where do dudes come up with these names? Though: mad respect for...

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:01:27 -0500

Where do dudes come up with these names? Though: mad respect for Home Alone.

GUESS WHO IS COMING TO HANG OUT WITH ME THIS WEEKEND Y'ALL

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:35:00 -0500

This guy. Chicago, if you would like to get into trouble with us, you just lemme know. Who has a boat?

I don’t really know what this means if you expand out the...

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:19:00 -0500

I don’t really know what this means if you expand out the metaphor (missing modesty? overtly sexual? a little off-kilter?) but I’m gonna say, accurate.

I had a package waiting for me in reception this morning. The...

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:45:39 -0500

I had a package waiting for me in reception this morning. The polarizing jeans are here and FABULOUS! (Taken with instagram)

sometimes the dumbest things just kill me. like watching a tv show and something “goes...

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:41:00 -0500

sometimes the dumbest things just kill me. like watching a tv show and something “goes wrong” and people turn to romantic partners to comfort them. i miss that. it’s been years since i have had a person to hug me when i’ve had a rough day at work or when my car is broken into or i’m sick or i’m just upset for no real reason. comforting myself gets old after awhile.

I just love a good American flag garment. Summer 2012 need:...

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:30:45 -0500

I just love a good American flag garment. Summer 2012 need: stars & stripes jorts.

I’m afraid I may snap like this one day at work....

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:02:46 -0500

I’m afraid I may snap like this one day at work. I’ve come soooo close.

Joan and Don last night were amazing.

Saturday was fun. My thighs are still sore from breaking it the...

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:12:04 -0500

Saturday was fun. My thighs are still sore from breaking it the fuck down. Drop it low.

If you ever wonder if I’ve lost my mind, the answer is...

Mon, 21 May 2012 21:13:33 -0500

If you ever wonder if I’ve lost my mind, the answer is yes. I decided to play connect the dots with the freckles on my legs. #idontevenknow (Taken with instagram)

whatevs: DAISY FUENTES LIKE WHOA! Where you at, T-Soren? [via...

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:25:34 -0500

whatevs:

DAISY FUENTES LIKE WHOA!

Where you at, T-Soren?

[via Daily Mail]

THE MONOKINI MOVEMENT IS REAL.

I mean. My little, baby (YEAH, TAKE THAT BRO) brother is not...

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:48:00 -0500

I mean. My little, baby (YEAH, TAKE THAT BRO) brother is not nice to me sometimes. I do not agree I’m your worst fucking nightmare, but MAYBE.

(If you didn’t know me very well, you may think this is all serious. It ain’t.)

in mourning

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:27:00 -0500

My amazing and expensive fun factory, German designed and engineered vibrator, purchased by my awful ex 4 years ago, just finally died. I tried 4 pairs of batteries. Just. Ugh. Why today. Haaaaate. Pour one out yo.

thedailywhat: This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day: Dharun...

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:17:30 -0500

thedailywhat:

This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day: Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers roommate of Tyler Clementi, was sentenced to just 30 days in jail today after being found guilty of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation, evidence tampering, and other counts for using a webcam to tape Clementi having sex with another man. Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in September 2010, just days after he learned of the video and an accompanying Twitter feed.

Judge Glenn Berman’s lectured Ravi before announcing the relatively light sentence: “You lied to your roommate who placed his trust in you without any conditions, and you violated it. I haven’t heard you apologize once.” Ravi had faced up to 10 years.

In addition to his jail term, Ravi was ordered to complete 300 hours of community service; attend a counseling program for cyberbullying and alternative lifestyles; pay $10,000 to a group that helps victims of bias crimes; and serve a three-year probation sentence. Prosecutors plan to appeal.

[dailyintel]

Completely disagree. Community service, restitution via donation, and counseling are exactly what this young man very much needs. He is serving a jail sentence, 30 days isn’t exactly nothing. He will be on probation, and for those who have never been on probation: it’s not exactly a cake walk. This conviction will follow him the rest of his life — as it should. But imprisoning him is not the answer. It’s not the “answer” for many crimes, big and small, and it’s expensive.

He bullied. He did a horrible thing. He is young and is not a murderer.