Tag: COVID-19

Women’s Work Is the Backbone of the U.S. Economy

We don’t say, “Behind every great man is a great woman” anymore, because women aren’t standing behind men anymore; we are care workers and caregivers leading the way to making the investments in our shared care infrastructure that we all need. Paid parental leave, higher wages for care workers, a domestic workers’ bill of rights, pay transparency and equal pay for equal work are just a few of the solutions that are long overdue.

(This essay is part of The Majority Rules project—an artful essay and op-ed series from Ms. and Supermajority Education Fund.)

Invest in Caregiving—and Give Women and Families a Break

The COVID-19 pandemic forced our nation to look critically at how our societal infrastructure, or lack thereof, has failed women in our roles as both workers and caregivers. As one sociologist put it: “Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women.” So what can we do?

(This essay is part of The Majority Rules project—an artful essay and op-ed series from Ms. and Supermajority Education Fund.)

Three Ways to Make Sure Your Child Is Truly Connected at School

Today, we are beginning to appreciate the impact of the pandemic on academic achievement and well-being for our kids. Children need to feel safe and secure to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Students with strong connections to their teachers are more likely to develop positive social and emotional competencies, feel more engaged in school, and perform better academically.

More than three-quarters of teachers believe that building stronger teacher-student connections is a highly effective way to boost student engagement. Parents also have a role to play, and there are steps we can take to make sure our kids have access to the kind of supportive relationships that can make a big difference.

Shine Bright: Rihanna, the Super Bowl, and Performing While Black and Pregnant

Rihanna’s pop star persona has always maintained this edge of “regular woman” meets “island girl” realness. During her 13-minute halftime show, America rejoiced at the simple magic of a Black woman being herself and resonating across the spectrums of humanity. 

Such hopeful images are especially powerful against the backdrop of disturbing stories of Black women experiencing higher maternal death rates and the realities of how Black pregnant people are devalued in our healthcare system.

Front and Center: Guaranteed Income Helped This Mom and Her Kids ‘Actually Enjoy Life a Little’

Front and Center highlights the success of Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing.

“I made it work because, as a mother, I can’t give excuses. I gotta get it done—because if I don’t, who will? …. The Magnolia Mother’s Trust has really helped me and my little family. We’re able to actually enjoy life a little bit more now.”

The U.S. Is Failing Women and Girls at the U.S-Mexico Border

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As asylum claims mount and U.S. immigration enforcement struggle to process them, border communities will remain overcrowded and detention centers will quickly fill up. Without deliberate humanitarian intervention, displaced Venezuelans at the U.S.-Mexico border will continue to suffer in inhumane conditions.

What can’t be overstated is the degree to which women and girls bear the brunt of this suffering.

Thirty Years After the FMLA, Lawmakers Must Guarantee Paid Leave for People Facing Violence

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The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) signed into law 30 years ago this week was the first time our country’s laws recognized that working people are also family caregivers and human beings who face illness themselves. But the FMLA was not enough, then or now.

Currently, leave is not available to people facing domestic and sexual violence if they need time off to go to court or seek other protections or support, which can cost them their jobs. Every state must consider adopting what is known as safe leave — leave for a worker subjected to sexual or domestic violence to seek a restraining order, relocate to safety, or take other protective measures — or help a close family member do so. This leave must also be paid.

America’s Lack of Paid Leave Is Devastating Women and Families

Thirty years ago, a group of determined women ushered the groundbreaking Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) into law after a long fight. While passage of the FMLA was a monumental achievement for its time, coverage and eligibility restrictions mean that over 40 percent of the workforce are excluded from its protections. Advocates hoped the FMLA would lay the foundation for a universal paid family and medical leave program.

Women can’t wait another 30 years. The time for paid leave is now.