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Activity Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich

“No culture on earth outside of mid-century suburban America has ever deployed one woman per child without simultaneously assigning her such major productive activities as weaving, farming, gathering, temple maintenance, and tent-building. The reason is that full-time, one-on-one child-raising is…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
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“No culture on earth outside of mid-century suburban America has ever deployed one woman per child without simultaneously assigning her such major productive activities as weaving, farming, gathering, temple maintenance, and tent-building. The reason is that full-time, one-on-one child-raising is not good for women or children.”

Barbara Ehrenreich

About This Quote

Source Book: Nickel and Dimed, 2001

Societies that require mothers to stay home full‑time hinder both women's and children's development by limiting women's productive contributions.

In simple terms: Full‑time mothering limits women's work and child growth.

Key Takeaway

Encourage shared parenting and women's economic participation.

Themes

gender roles family economics women's labor child development

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

social policy feminist

When to use this quote

  • policy reform
  • parental leave
  • community childcare
  • women's education

Key Concepts

feminist economics social policy labor division

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies redesign childcare to benefit both genders?
  • What policies support shared parenting?
A Different Perspective

Balancing childcare with work is complex and may face cultural resistance.

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