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Jul 8, 2022·edited Jul 8, 2022Liked by Cathy Reisenwitz

I think SCOTUS’ recent ruling delayed any reasonable chance of a solution. Women’s contributions to to the workforce are significant but are also constrained by 1) the availability of child care, 2) the state and availability of healthcare (and insurance coverage, and lastly 3) the real division of domestic work in practice as revealed in studies. If it were possible for an average job to pay a wage that would enable a single individual to support a family there would be enough flexibility in roles (functional or gender defined) to address many issues currently leading to dissatisfaction in society. (Wealth disparity of course is another enormous hurdle.)

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Jul 9, 2022Liked by Cathy Reisenwitz

“Will women be on board with a non male breadwinner model?” Good question. Traditional gender roles are still deeply engrained in both men and women — often to a toxic degree.

Data seems to show that generally high income women want men who can pump out cash at the same rate they do. (High income men are still more likely to marry a woman who earns less.)

Antidotally, it seems working and middle class men and women are still believers in the traditional male bread winner model or want to be. I’ve heard women, even professional independent women, say things like “I wish I could find man who could take care of me.”

As you describe so well, the economy and modern life have made living out these role expectations difficult if not impossible for working class people. And for so many men the fruitless pursuit of being a traditional male can have disastrous consequences.

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