Biden’s demands to create a more equitable economy for women, which reflect decades of activism and leadership on the part of racial and gender justice advocates, aren’t simply bullet points on a progressive wish list. They aren’t “nice-to-haves.” They are fundamental building blocks of an economy and society that values women and families, which explains why the United States doesn’t have them.
Tag: Minimum Wage
This Women’s History Month, Honor Women by Honoring Caregiving
Caregiving is an essential and difficult profession, yet it is written off as “women’s work” and severely undervalued.
This Women’s History Month, let’s break gender-based economic barriers with the same enthusiasm with which we cheer for women who’ve broken glass ceilings. Let’s demand a federal economic policy that centers women—and honors the work of the unknown women of history whose caregiving labor was ignored and nearly forgotten.
27 Times More Men Than Women Joined the Labor Force Last Month. It’s Time for Systemic Change
Virtually hidden in last week’s job numbers hype was some terrible news for women: 27 times more men than women joined the labor force last month.
As the pandemic (hopefully) continues to wane and jobs come back, we need to look deeper and think long-term about fixes for women that won’t disappear when the next superbug comes along—systemic fixes like establishing a robust care infrastructure, raising the minimum wage, and strengthening workplace protections.
Keeping Score: 49th Roe Anniversary Sees Record Abortion Restrictions; Federal Employees Achieve $15 Minimum Wage; Sotomayor Calls S.B. 8 “Egregious Violation of Constitutional Rights”
In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in in this biweekly round-up.
This week: Senate fails to pass landmark voting rights legislation; the 49th (and last?) anniversary of Roe v. Wade; OPM raises minimum wage for federal employees to $15 per hour; Minneapolis City Council elects Andrea Jenkins as its first Black, transgender woman president; D.C. mothers eligible for $900 in monthly assistance; Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is first transgender actor to win a Golden Globe; women patients see significantly better outcomes with female surgeons; and more.
Keeping Score: NYC’s First Women-Majority Council Takes Office; Only 55% of Non-Parents Want Kids Someday; D.C. Students Get Free Period Products
This week: Nebraskans face one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation; New York City’s first women-majority city council takes office; Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers sentenced to life in prison; D.C. Council approved free menstrual products in all schools; the gender gap in higher education widens; and more.
Many People With Disabilities Are Paid Just Pennies. Build Back Better Could Help End That
A little-known provision in the Build Back Better Act being negotiated in Congress could help catalyze the full federal repeal of the subminimum wage for people with disabilities.
Trickle-Up Economics: The Macroeconomic Impact of Investing in Care Work
The Biden-Harris administration’s proposed investment in care infrastructure would benefit caregivers, those who receive care—and the country’s bottom line. Investing in the care workforce has both the intangible human benefits of a well-cared-for society, as well as the dollars-and-cents benefit of generating increased economic activity.
Front and Center: Guaranteed Income Helps Roneisha Know Her Worth—and Afford “a Treat Here and There”
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 have this ability through the money from the trust to provide for my family in a hard time, because before I got that call that I was selected to be part of the program I was really struggling to keep on top of my bills and responsibilities.”
The Caregiving Crisis Didn’t Start with COVID-19—It Won’t End With Biden’s $400 Billion Plan
Feminists are calling President Biden’s proposed $400 billion investment in caregiving “a great deposit” but “not nearly enough.” Programs Biden’s plan is proposing to invest in—such as community-based care—have been underfunded for decades
I Was Sexually Harassed at McDonald’s. Now I Know Why McDonald’s Ignored My Complaints.
“My experience at McDonald’s has taught me the culture is created at the top. Maybe if McDonald’s higher-ups weren’t so busy condoning harassment in the C-suite, they’d have listened to workers like me when we sounded alarms about unacceptable behavior behind their counters.”