|
Book |
Quote/Comment |
Mother in the Middle
Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars, by Deborah Shaw Lewis
&
Charmaine Crouse Yoest
© 1996, p. 209 |
On a policy level, the discussion of
child care is dominated by questions of how to facilitate group day care.
For example, one researcher wrote that "one objective of the Family Support
Act of 1988 is to facilitate labor force entry of women with young children
by improving their wages and reducing their child care costs."
Isn't there an illogic to having the words
"facilitating the labor force entry of women with young children" in
legislation bearing the title Family Support Act?
Category =
Politics |
Mother in the Middle
Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars, by Deborah Shaw Lewis
&
Charmaine Crouse Yoest
© 1996, p. 212 |
However, in order to qualify for the
DCTC (Dependent Care Tax Credit), you must "incur the care expenses in order
to earn income." for married couples, "this requires both spouses to work
either at full- or part-time positions." This policy...discriminates against
at-home mothers...
Category =
Politics |
Mother in the Middle
Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars, by Deborah Shaw Lewis
&
Charmaine Crouse Yoest
© 1996, p. 212 |
Child care subsidies work the same way.
Not only do they encourage out-of-home care through the actual subsidies
but they institutionalize child care,
by the establishment of a federal child care
bureaucracy. By the cash assistance the (U.S.) government gives, it
further promotes usage of day care centers.
Category =
Politics |
Mother in the Middle
Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars, by Deborah Shaw Lewis
&
Charmaine Crouse Yoest
© 1996, p. 214 |
Even some conservatives, who
traditionally support mothers at home, are ignoring the larger societal
ramifications of requiring AFDC moms to work. The tough "change welfare
to workfare" rhetoric plays well. But won't it place some disadvantaged
preschool children at an even greater disadvantage to reduce their contact
with the one parent they do have and replace that parent with a "mother
substitute"? This isn't "pro-family" strategy.
Category =
Politics |
Mother in the Middle
Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars, by Deborah Shaw Lewis
&
Charmaine Crouse Yoest
© 1996, p. 215 |
Who will take care of the children?
Someone does have to do it. In discussions of child care, the child
development literature often refers to the "mother substitute."
A mother's care for her own child is always the standard. As a matter
of public policy, we should encourage what is best for
the children.
Why should we settle for--much less promote--(the daycare) substitute?
Category =
Politics |
