This is so right on. There is so much evidence that shows that prioritizing the economic security of women and children pays dividends for the whole society. Why not take action around this? Misogyny and fear. But it’s so important that you are taking up this argument!
Amen! It's LONG past time for Universal Basic Income (UBI), with no strings attached. And we can literally just print the money, no new taxes or borrowing required.
And those who oppose it for what they claim are "moral" reasons? I guarantee you that they will happily accept the money when it is offered to them as well. If everyone is on the dole, than no one is really on the dole.
I know someone will make the argument that "why should men get UBI too?". Well, first of all, the genius of UBI is that it is UNIVERSAL. Everybody in, nobody out. No means test, no discrimination, no perverse incentives. Secondly, if it was given only to women and not men, then the men in their lives would becomes zealously jealous, and perhaps even violent towards them, as some pilot studies have shown. And men are the most dangerous when they are desperate for money. Thus, whether it is for pragmatism, humanism, or both, it needs to be universal. That's not to say an *additional* amount for mothers and children is off the table. Many countries already have that right now, in fact. But either way, the base amount needs to be universal, across the board.
I would definitely support ubi for everyone. Unnecessary suffering benefits no one and is immoral. Some people definitely need more support and some historically have received less and have more of a deficit to make up for.
Such a sage take on all of this! Fascinating the way this particular story lives on in various ways and versions. It almost feels so strong that we can't see past it despite the studies showing what happens if we give women money. I saw it first-hand when I spent a few months volunteering with a social enterprise in Rwanda that worked with low-resourced women. It helped to lift those women and their children out of poverty with ripple effects into the whole community.
Also, as someone who is childfree, I'm curious to think about the reactions I get (often not pleasant) about making that choice. Perhaps there is an element there of how it doesn't adhere to this story you talk about in this piece. If we're so steeped in this story for hundreds of years, it's hard to be writing a different one.
Love this article, and your writing! I aspire to write articles the way you do. Medea has been a favourite of mine for a long time, and I recommend watching the filmed version on the National Theatre website. It's a beautiful production, albeit heartbreaking.
Love this so much - was just hearing about the program in Kenya on the radio the other day. In some ways, this feels like a more impactful effort than all the policy change in the world. Similar to how paying for people to travel to and get abortions is the most effective way of directly supporting families. A part of me resists this, not wanting to feed capitalism, but also this is the world we live in.
This is so right on. There is so much evidence that shows that prioritizing the economic security of women and children pays dividends for the whole society. Why not take action around this? Misogyny and fear. But it’s so important that you are taking up this argument!
“Prioritizing the economic security of women and children” really is everything. How is that not obvious??
Amen! It's LONG past time for Universal Basic Income (UBI), with no strings attached. And we can literally just print the money, no new taxes or borrowing required.
And those who oppose it for what they claim are "moral" reasons? I guarantee you that they will happily accept the money when it is offered to them as well. If everyone is on the dole, than no one is really on the dole.
I know someone will make the argument that "why should men get UBI too?". Well, first of all, the genius of UBI is that it is UNIVERSAL. Everybody in, nobody out. No means test, no discrimination, no perverse incentives. Secondly, if it was given only to women and not men, then the men in their lives would becomes zealously jealous, and perhaps even violent towards them, as some pilot studies have shown. And men are the most dangerous when they are desperate for money. Thus, whether it is for pragmatism, humanism, or both, it needs to be universal. That's not to say an *additional* amount for mothers and children is off the table. Many countries already have that right now, in fact. But either way, the base amount needs to be universal, across the board.
I would definitely support ubi for everyone. Unnecessary suffering benefits no one and is immoral. Some people definitely need more support and some historically have received less and have more of a deficit to make up for.
Amen, thank you 😊
Such a sage take on all of this! Fascinating the way this particular story lives on in various ways and versions. It almost feels so strong that we can't see past it despite the studies showing what happens if we give women money. I saw it first-hand when I spent a few months volunteering with a social enterprise in Rwanda that worked with low-resourced women. It helped to lift those women and their children out of poverty with ripple effects into the whole community.
Also, as someone who is childfree, I'm curious to think about the reactions I get (often not pleasant) about making that choice. Perhaps there is an element there of how it doesn't adhere to this story you talk about in this piece. If we're so steeped in this story for hundreds of years, it's hard to be writing a different one.
Thank you for this thought-provoking piece!
Love this article, and your writing! I aspire to write articles the way you do. Medea has been a favourite of mine for a long time, and I recommend watching the filmed version on the National Theatre website. It's a beautiful production, albeit heartbreaking.
Aw, thanks Aleesha! What a kind thing to say. I have actually never seen Medea, only read it! So thanks for the rec!
Fantastic read. Reflecting so much of what we know. Thank you for writing it.
Thanks so much! :)
Love this so much - was just hearing about the program in Kenya on the radio the other day. In some ways, this feels like a more impactful effort than all the policy change in the world. Similar to how paying for people to travel to and get abortions is the most effective way of directly supporting families. A part of me resists this, not wanting to feed capitalism, but also this is the world we live in.
Thanks so much for this!
Thanks so much, Bridget! It does feel more impactful…and kind of like the shortest distance between two lines, you know?