This article has wonderful takeaways. The new dreams of being significant decision makers that young girls can cherish. The importance of balance in the legislature. The participation of women who have a less combative cultural paradigm boding well for less partisanship.
But the article inadvertently and tragically reinforces the very problem it is written to address. Why doesn’t it start with the question, “where are the men?” Maybe these women can do what they do, because their husbands are at home full-time. These men are the fathers of the children, the people who live in the home that is well run, the sons of the elderly. Men make up almost 50% of the Vermonters. Why does the article assume that “women have two jobs”. How many jobs do the men have? It assumes the men only have one job. Isn’t that the problem?
The article itself is a stereotype. The presumption is that women can’t get double the work done. Of course they can’t. The unconscious paradigm in this article of what the level of care should be and which gender is doing that care is pulled directly from the 1950’s. The standard consists of a full-time invisible mom at home and an invisible dad at the office also full time. The 50’s workload was a division of labor completely based on gender.
In the modern world, the workload has to be based on available time for partners. While there are many single moms and dads, there are many more people who have partners. Instead of supporting the cultural paradigm that women double up on work, each couple needs to make a list of jobs – the ones that earn money and the ones that provide the care for dependents.
The assignments should be based on availability, earning power, number of dependents, hours at work and all the practical logistics of modern life. They should not be based on some division of labor organized by a patriarchal culture that still haunts us. If it is the case that the care for children and seniors and paid work are overwhelming for partners, then it is realistic that both men and women will be older when they choose to step into public service.
Stop thinking gender for job assignments. Change the paradigm. The men are the solution and they are right there.
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Vermont has put women at legislative helm. Where will they steer?
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2021/0302/Vermont-has-put-women-at-legislative-helm.-Where-will-they-steer
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