Response to Mink: Welfare and Microfinance

After reading Mink's paper on the welfare system and the extreme disadvantages it creates for single parents who would like to make the choice to raise their children and work in the home rather than work out of the home, I googled "welfare and single mothers." I came across this article which discusses the plight of poor single mothers, and the Image, Story, Emotion, Action technique used by most chairty/entrepreneurial organizations to attract and direct investors. I reflected on the societal image that has been ingrained in us, directing our perception of single mothers. The traditional life track encouraged by multiple media outlets--receive an education, find a man, get married and start a family--which also perpetuates traditional gender role stereotypes makes it very difficult to encourage enough emotion and sympathy around the single mother story.  Compound single motherhood with the fact that the parent wants to work primarily within the home, and donors are unlikely to turn their emotion into action.  As Mink points out, caregiving work is undervalued in our society, as our focus is primarily on wages earned and economic advancements. Success and wealth are viewed as monetary accumulation rather than the benefits from being part of a wholesome, happy, cared-for family.  As Johnson and Critenden point out in defining patriarchy and work-place environments, the nurturing qualities that women traditionally possess are not valued as strong, positive qualities that belong in the job market.  The reluctance of companies to invest in female employees who will most likely elect to take some time off, to devote themselves to family life, perfectly demonstrates this.  In today's Brown Bag, an anecdote was shared about one professor's job search experience. She attended an employment conference in her field immediately following the completion of her PhD program and brought her husband, 2 year old daughter, and newborn baby with her. Her family had to wait, almost locked up in their hotel room, so that at any available moment between each interview, this professor could frantically sprint upstairs to breastfeed, to prevent unwanted leaking, and then run back down.  She ran into a male colleague of hers at the conference, who was carrying his newborn baby with him, and attending interviews with the child. When he asked why she did not have her baby with her, she replied that she did but that she didn't want to have the baby with her at the conference because of how it would negatively affect her changes for employment. As Critenden explained, employers are wary of hiring mothers who may not be able to put in their best effort because of being pulled in so many directions. The male colleague responded to this by saying something along the lines of, "I am having so much success with my baby at the conference! Everyone seems to want to talk to me because of having her here!" This frustrating double standard amongst male and female parents seeking employment is an extension of the frustration faced by single, stay-at-home parents, who cannot seek welfare without having a wage-paying job. With all matters so contingent on wage, it is clear that advancement is only seen as domination, being better-than, instead of self improvement, moral goodness, sharing of values, etc.