Joe Hendren on May Day, neo-liberalism impacts on families
Joe Hendren has just published his response to the May Day debate around the legacy of neo-liberalism here. There are a lot of good links within his post and I found the ones on the implications of Clark's Social Security Amendment Act particularly interesting.
Society is set up for a distinct divide between family life and work life and yet within ourselves, these things do not stay in neat compartments. In my comment on Joe's post, I mentioned the tension between (historically) male unions fighting for a wage which can support a partner and children and the absolute need that we acknowledge, respect and empower the financial contributions which women do make to households.
I think our challenge now is to create a discourse which seeks respect for all adults and children in a way which provides for sustenance, warmth and security and simultaneously respects those contributions which are unpaid and outside of market forces. It is a big challenge and it is a worthwhile one.
