Should universal, quality child-care be considered a right to ensure women's equality?

Question

Isn't it almost as important as the right to control her own body? After all, the burden of caring for children usually falls to women, and the cost and quality of child care often forces women to restrict their careers.

I respect anyone's choice in this respect. And, of course, it is regrettable that outside child care options are often so much worse than simply doing it yourself. But it doesn't have to be that way; that's my point.

Dolen, two reasons you might have to pay for it is that society has an interest in well-raised children, and in gender equality.

ruth - have you seen the way the elderly and children are taking care of in countries that actually *care* about the elderly and children? Why can't we be like that?
FYI:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/6360517.stm

Answer 1

What an interesting question.

I have many thoughts and feelings about this subject, being a mother, grandmother, and a former day-care worker--as well as a teacher, a single mother for a number of years, and raised by parents who both worked (back in the days before it was "usual" for white women to have to work!)

Children in this country seem to be our lowest priority (followed by the elderly who are poor). When children are murdered, it is usually called manslaughter, and the penalties are not nearly what they would be if it had been an adult who was murdered.

Our educational system is lousy.

Women who receive government aid (welfare) are forced to go to work before their children are of school age, so the children have to be placed in some sort of day care situation (Which, in turn, is also paid for by the govt.--Why not just let the woman stay home with her child until it is six years old?? Wouldn't be any costlier.) The day care providers are usually minimum wage earners, and, of course, do not have nearly the stake in the outcome of the child that his/her own parent(s) would have.

Wages are so low and economy so bad right now, that even in two-parent families it is often a necessity for the mother to work! Once again, we have child care problems.

I don't know if it should be a "right" of women (or single men, whom I'm sure you meant to include), in order to ensure equality, but it certainly is the right of every child to be well cared for!!!

Many of the naswer-ers here today seem to have missed your point altogether. One thought you meant health care for children, and said that if the mother works her job should provide it. (Well, ha ha, most jobs don't even provide it for the employee any longer!!) Universal socialized health care should be a given in a "civilized" industrialized country with the riches that we have!! All children have a "right" to that!

Another answer-er said that she didn't want welfare, but supported "subsidies" from the government! (Well, what does she think "welfare" is???)

In England, mothers automatically receive a monthly check for each child whether the mother is married or not. This is to ensure that the child's needs are taken care of. (Daddy might drink or gamble or....whatever. And I know that one from first-hand experience.)

To quote that song that I can't stand to hear even one more time, "Our children are our future!" They need quality care on all levels, whether mother is a career woman, a woman who has to work to support the family, or a stay-at-home mom1 [and, believe me, that is a "job" and a "career", too])

Thanks for giving me a chance to rant on one of my favorite subjects--children!

Answer 2

no. Granted I do believe there should be a cap on the cost of childcare. Low income families that make 1500 a month that spend 1000 on childcare is ridiculous. But I do not believe child care should be footed by our govt.
The woman does not have to be the one to stay home with the kids. That burden should fall upon both parents. However, in our society it is more likely the woman. If at all possible I do believe one parent or the other should stay with the children, and other countries have set up provisions for just such a thing. Some do it in the form of govt. subsidies, others in the form of a huge tax break. It would make sense where our economy is concerned to do something of the same here.
If one parent could afford to stay home with the children (ie.. subsidies) then that would open the job market almost 2 fold. Creating more employment, decreasing welfare, lowering the cost of living, children are better cared for, childcare centers have no choice but to lower their prices for the lower income. Thereby, increasing our economic sources.

Answer 3

Yes if your aim is equality. I find it really funny that the people that are against abortion ("Pro-life"), would say no so resolutly to this question. When I read this question I was amazed at the insight and must admit really liked it. If every life is sacred, shouldn't every life be cared for? So you want them to have the child and if it dies of malnutrition then it is the will of god. How is that pro-life. Life is a lot more complicated then death. It takes more than just morals to feed the poor. I love when people call you a communist, because Jesus was a communist. Did Jesus not preach to feed the poor? Love thy fellow man? The equality of life? Then how can one simply say that caring for the child is all up to the mother? What a cold society do we live in if we cannot extend help to those in need.

Answer 4

Why worry about the women : they seem to have more rights than men in that area, already. If they make a baby with a guy, they can choose to abort it without his consent, have it without his consent and to force him to pay child support without his consent if she does have it. ( I am, however, pro-life. )
Women usually also get custody, almost automatically, in many divorce cases, even if the kids are boys and ALTHOUGH scientific study has shown that boys cared for only by their mother are 2x as likely to be incarcerated, later on, 3x as likely to be incarcerated later on if she remarries and have NO increase in likelihood of incarceration later on in life if they are raised by their single dad alone.
I also know of a man who, upon divorce, had excellent witnesses as to his quality as a father, by people in the community -- even police, passed a psychological evaluation with flying colors while his ex flunked it big time, had a good job while his wife, with higher education didn't, and SHE got the kids, even though the psychologist was able to notice her trying to manipulate the hearts & minds of the children against him.
I also know of several cases in which guys have been routinely & blatantly descriminated against in the childcare industry, as if it were nothing at all to do so --- even someone being denied a specific job ONLY because he is a guy, with the guiding force in that being public opinion, ...even though doing so is totally illegal ( but no-one will touch it : if it were the other way around, you bet there'd have been a lawsuit by some equal rights group long ago).
Hey, you want fair, do fair, not hypocrisy.

Answer 5

I've never thought about it... interesting idea...

but I think we have a ways to go before that even comes to the table for discussion...

I think health care is more imporant and an easier argument to make... this is a bit more of a stretch, even though I see where you're coming from...

I also find it interesting that women are much more open to it, even conservative women, than men... maybe not exactly supporting it... but more open to it

Answer 6

Scientifically, women take better care of themselves than men. The reason they live longer than men. The problem is prevention and awareness then the means to resolve the symptoms. The right choice is free healthcare that's secured and cheaper. The programs are in place to create equality, http://www.voteprimous.com

Answer 7

I used to think so. Until I became a mom. What about the quality of our children? Is that worth a sacrifice for any of us? It is for me.

EDIT: I have a minor in SW. We tossed this stuff around. I bought the whole deal. Have you seen how our elderly are taken care of in our nation's nursing homes? It's worth a look. Not the way we need our babies treated. Not at all.

Answer 8

well it definitely restricts my career sicne i can only work jobs at night when i have family to watch the little one. i dont know about giving it to people because then it would be like another government hand out. but i think there should be something to help- just cant think of what.

Answer 9

Is there anything you think a person should pay for by themselves? I've never seen a person so intent on stealing money from others.

Here's a really interesting idea, why don't we have the people who decided to have a baby raise the baby instead of passing the buck on to everyone else. How about we work on equality when it comes to being responsible for your own actions.

Answer 10

Yes. What the right fails to see is that with more women in the work force the tax base increases more than enough to make up the difference in the cost for child care.........Controlling women and their choices seems to be a product of conservatism.