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2009-2010,
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Quote/Comment |
Mothering Denied - The sources of love, and
how our culture harms infants, women, and society
by Dr. Peter Cook,
©2009, p.73 |
Some childcare advocates argue that
infants are being properly returned to group care with multiple carers*,
as in a tribe; but they ignore the fact that, uniquely in the history of our
species, this policy raises infants in institutions that do not include
their mothers or anyone having an enduring bond with the child, let alone
any real love for these very young children.
Category = History
*Carer =
Daycare Worker |
Mothering Denied - The sources of love, and
how our culture harms infants, women, and society
by Dr. Peter Cook,
©2009, p.73 |
Despite many warnings, our brave new world*
still supports a vicious circle, as the increasingly powerful and wealthy
childcare industry profits from center-based daycare. The influential
gatekeepers promote its growth, and the early education industry, also...
Category = Economics
*Brave
New World -- A. Huxley's horrific science fiction novel's vision
of the future, published in 1932 |
Mothering Denied - The sources of love, and
how our culture harms infants, women, and society
by Dr. Peter Cook,
©2009, p.73 |
It is a curious irony, that while
feminism campaigned for men to take a more equal share in parenting,
institutional childcare is staffed almost exclusively by women, since fears
of pedophilia deny children any experience of father-figures while they are
in childcare. A further anomaly is that the childcare industry is staffed by
women who are generally among the lowest paid in our society.
Category = Economics, Politics |
Mothering Denied - The sources of love, and
how our culture harms infants, women, and society
by Dr. Peter Cook,
©2009, p.78 |
At the Institute for the Study of
Children, Families and Social Issues, in London, Professor Ted Melhuish
pointed to the case of Sweden as evidence of what parents might want if they
had a real choice, “The Swedish case is very revealing—there was
high-quality infant care available to all and heavily subsidised. It was
widely used in the 70s and 80s, but in the early 90s, parental leave was
increased and now there is remarkably little use of childcare under 18
months. Parents voted with their feet”.
Category = Economics, Politics |
Mothering Denied - The sources of love, and
how our culture harms infants, women, and society
by Dr. Peter Cook,
©2009, p.79-80 |
Yet Belsky’s further question as to
whether lengthy parental leave and support would actually cost less than
the consequences of their absence has not yet been honestly faced.
Belsky’s use of the word consequences suggests that the costs of any
adverse impacts of childcare on the developing child should also be
included. At present, these are never taken into account.
Since economic arguments and pressures are so often used to get mothers back
into the ‘workforce,’ and infants into early childcare, this policy is
overdue for a full economic analysis that takes account of all the
‘externalities’ and ‘collateral damage’ that economists find it so easy to
ignore and so hard to evaluate. If they think that this collateral damage
matters, but they cannot put a price on it, they should say so.
Evidence already available, and outlined in earlier chapters, shows that the
full costs of subsidizing childcare, so that the ‘economy’ may benefit from
‘getting mothers into the workforce,’ may be very great. Consider the
potential costing in just five areas:
i) Breastfeeding, ii) School classrooms, iii) Societal effects, iv) Quality
of relationships, v) Increased stress
Category = Economics |
Mothering Denied - The sources of love, and
how our culture harms infants, women, and society
by Dr. Peter Cook,
©2009, p.79-80 |
Ignoring research showing the possibly
serious and long-term risks involved, childcare advocates still sometimes
talk as if infants—even from a few weeks of age—can be safely reared in
childcare centers, with no need for mothering during this time. A powerful
and costly childcare ‘industry’ has grown almost exponentially, with a
vested interest in early, long-day childcare. It is generally presented as
offering early education, and it often has large public subsidies.
Category = Economics, Politics |
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Quotes
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2009-2010, p4 |
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Last updated:
06/17/2012
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