The response to Sarah Palin's candidacy has me thinking about
many things, one of which is childcare.
While I wrote on Friday about how we need to think
about voting for allies instead of voting for symbols, I also find the
notion of questioning her ability to be vice president in light of the
number of children she has to be particularly anti-woman.
Has fatherhood every been seen as a barrier to being the president?
I have another question for you. How many children does John McCain
have? Off the top of my head. I don't know.
But, I can tell you that Ms. Palin has five because it has been reported over
and over again since last Thursday.
Notwithstanding the thinness of her resume, that she has five children
and is currently a public servant is further evidence of her ability organize
and run arguably anything.
This systematic devaluation of maternal caregiving is despicable,
anti-woman and wreaks of patriarchy.
Which leads me to my next question, What if all the women (and men
who supported them) went on strike for one week in this country
for the purposes of demanding federal and state supported childcare?
Childcare is an issue that affects all of us regardless of ethnicity
and class and it would provide a great opportunity organize people
across a broad range of backgrounds.
Childcare is expensive and necessary in a capitalist economy where
parents work outside of the home. All of us are affected by it
either directly because we have children, or indirectly because
we care for our family members children, or because our co workers
miss work in order arrange for, or provide, childcare.
How would this country look if (the majority of) women went on strike
for a week and remained home?
