Albrecht, Hitting Home. "The Public Context of Private Choices"

This article documents the hypocrisy of policy regarding families in the United States. Conservative–and not so conservative–ideas stress that family choices are private choices, choices that are to be made in the home without the interference of the government or greater society. However, this article documents how American policies are actually racist and sexist, that they support the choices of white men over their families, yet use government programs, like TANF and others, to create boundaries and incentives for black or poor families to not procreate. This has led to not only racial inequalities, but the dichotomized female and male work industries, by promoting the idea that women are "natural" caregivers and that caring for the family is a private problem, leading to lack of support for the elderly or children which is considered the unpaid responsibility of women. -K.B.

Even today there is a discrepancy between society's idea of family choices regarding care as private, but these issues are actually greatly tied to the public sphere.   The burden of care for dependents and children often falls to women who are assumed to be natural born caregivers.   For many women, especially the economically disadvantaged, the choice to stay at home or work is an economic one.   The author points out the discrimination in the current system along gender and economic lines.     Low income women are especially discriminated against because they do not have equal access to care for dependents nor do they have the financial resources to afford adequate care.     The article serves to effectively highlight the many dimensions of the decision to work or stay at home with children and some of the challenges low income wage earners must face.   -E.S.

"Now that Women Work"

This article sets up the context of working women today by elaborating on the historical framework of the gender division of labor. This method establishes the readership as those who are knowledgeable and interested in history and not the general public. It is interesting to note that the author focuses on all the major divisions of labor, and not just the white man verses the white woman. Readings on the gendered division of labor generally tend to forget that not all women have the same opportunities or desires to make a decision about where and how to work, but this reading makes sure to include in the discussion the other limiting factors of class, race, and sexual orientation. It is a wonderfully written piece that everyone should read. - L.P.