Child care Quote by Lynn Povich
““Free and accessible child care has always been a fundamental demand of the women’s movement, but the legislative efforts to pass such measures have failed. “Everything that our generation asked for as feminists was getting the identical things of what boys had—access to the Ivy League or professional schools or corporate America,” said psychiatrist Anna Fels. “Women now are up against a much deeper structural problem. The workplace is designed around the male life cycle and there is no allowance for children and family. There’s a fragile new cultural ideal—that both the husband and wife work. But when these families are under the real pressure of having a baby or two, there’s a collapse back to old cultural norms and these young parents go back to the default tradition.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The New York Times, 2020
Childcare demands clash with workplace structures designed for men, hindering gender equality.
In simple terms: Workplaces aren't built for parents, especially women.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for family‑friendly policies at work.
Themes
gender equality
family policy
workplace design
Mood
determined
empathetic
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- parenting
- policy reform
- advocacy
Key Concepts
structural barriers
economic impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies would support working parents?
- How can workplaces become more inclusive?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep cultural norms takes time.
