Moms …Time To Rise!
Ever since I had Savi, I have try to stay informed about Maternity/Paternity and Family benefits in the US. My first week back at work was so frustrating as I started to research this. It turns out that the United States is one of only 4 countries that doesn’t offer paid leave for new moms (Papua New Guinea, Lesotho, and Swaziland being the others). In a country where media does not stop making a big deal of breastfeeding, where divorce rates are skyrocketing, where post partum depression is leading to moms killing their children, where school shootings are becoming common place …. This country advocates giving birth to a child and either dying(so to speak) of exhaustion or dying of poverty.
You would think that the people and politicians of this nation would realize that a key to all these issues is the lack of support for families in society ??? Why don’t people fight for these things? Are we too busy? Do we forget the pain so easily? Do we not realize the repurcussions this could have? If I feel so much pain, what happens to all those single moms and folk who cannot afford to take time off from work ( I took full 12 weeks off … a lot unpaid and used all my vacation and sick leave) ???
I wondered where I should start …
It is all so hard to fathom that people do not understand that all problems basically arise from a weak upbringing…I come from a country(India) where basic family structure (at least when I was a child) lent itself to a great upbringing. Mothers were primary caregivers to children and my mom stayed home to take care of us. We had a woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi way back …even before I was born! Women in India are at least ten times as fierce as the women in the United States ….in India and at home I was taught to compromise, adjust, give-up, give-in etc etc when it comes to a number of things but I was also taught to fight like hell when I did not get something I deserved.
It intrigues me as to why the men and women in the United States do not yell and scream (so to speak) at the grassroots level. Why do people let big corporations make decisions (insurance companies!) for them? Why do people not talk about the issues that affect them the most? I really wonder why people do not get pissed off when they are getting such a raw deal?!!!
Perhaps, the United States is finally going to make some headway …with more women and moms in politics, family issues will hopefully get more of a focus …. Perhaps some people will even vote for Hillary Clinton if/when she does run for President ;) !
At least some men and women out there are doing something ….I cannot wait for the day when this will reach critical mass … will it ever? I really hope it does and I promise to do everything in my capacity to help it happen!
One mom rising:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/11/pf/moms_rising/?postversion=2007011109
Moms rising to make change:
http://www.momsrising.org/
What you can do:
http://www.momsrising.org/partyaction
Go here to contact politicians from your state:
http://action.progressivestates.org/content.jsp?content_KEY=2145
Okay, now i really need to work :)
January 18th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Thanks for raising your voice and telling it like it is! Its great that you are using this opportunity to raise your own consciousness about issues surrounding motherhood and women’s rights, as well as educating those of us reading your blog. More power to you.
Another organization that comes to mind as having consistently advocated for the rights of women and mothers is Planned Parenthood.
I am more skeptical than you are about whether a sea change in policies and attitudes is going to happen anytime soon. Yes, more women are gaining prominence, but they aren’t necessarily voices that are espousing for things such as better support for working women, etc. The general political atmosphere, whether it is led by Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton still favors big corporations over working families; less and less workers are getting access to unions (and thereby deprived of mechanisms to get their rights), etc. We not only need more women in politics, but real political change.. But as you rightly point out, more people have to rise up. Will they?
keep writing!
January 24th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Ram,
I agree that political chnage will be really slow to come by …but what can accelerate it is our participation.
I remember my undergrad days in Mysore …the girls from the hostel went out on a strike outside the SJCE Principal’s office to protest the lack of women in the Jayciana(college fest) committee. It took only 2 -3 hours of yelling and screaming before we got our way!
I see that most people here are too comfortable and lack that fire. I really wish I could do something to get them to rise!!!!
Thank you for your participation ….it is great to hear your thoughts!
-m
April 27th, 2007 at 11:17 am
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