“Families in the News” Exercise
Select one family-related issue that interests you and collect at least five recent articles that deal with this issue, published in 2006-07 in newspapers or news magazines.
Finding affordable, quality childcare: a working woman's dilemma.
Article #1: High costs of child care can lead to lifestyle changes, adjustments; Some financially crunched parents feel push to relocate, change jobs, USA TODAY, April 18, 2006.
Parents are basing decisions about their jobs and families according to how much childcare they can afford. Since childcare costs are taking a large chunk out of incomes, they seek employers who offer subsidized childcare, relocate to more affordable housing, and work longer hours. In today’s economy young parents are having a difficult time raising families and getting ahead in their careers.
Journalist Stephanie Armour quotes specific expenses for childcare and preschool through direct interviews with working mothers who are experiencing the pressures of increasing costs of childcare: Margaret Schwartz, marketing consultant and mother of two four-year old boys in VA; Lisa Rivero, employee in communications and mother of a one-year-old in MA; Remi Adams, employee at a high-tech firm and mother of two in CA.
Armour also quotes figures tabulated by Chicago-based employee assistance provider ComPsych who has surveyed parents with regard to difficulties they have encountered in arranging for childcare. In her article, she quotes average infant child care fees which range from $4,000 to $13,000, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, a network of more than 850 child care resource and referral centers based in Arlington, VA. Armour also quotes costs for preschool and child care programs in California at $4,000 -$5000 per year from a report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California, a Washington-based organization of law enforcement officers. Finally, she quotes the variable average costs for child care for a 4-year-old in a licensed child care center in each of our states, information provided by the State CCR&R network (2005).
Armour’s statistical reporting appears to be of high quality. Her interviews with real families give specific numbers and a face to the average statistics. The other numbers used are quoted from reliable sources that have access to large numbers of parents who are requesting childcare and have an interest in researching and averaging childcare costs throughout the U.S.
The article focuses on the plight of the working mother (of the middle-income family) even if there are two parents working. Child-care fees are compared to other expenses such as food and college tuition. State to state comparisons are provided as well as reports of states with least affordable childcare: NY, MN, CA, and MA. Armour’s reporting avoids broad generalizations by using a variety of sources across the United States.
Article #2: Mayor Cieslewicz, community leaders announce new initiatives for childcare, fiscal responsibility, US States News, October 11, 2006.
Expenditures specifically targeting childcare funding are quoted from a news release issued by the office of the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. The increased numbers for 2007 are compared to the 2006 budget. Explanations for the expenditures, including benefits to the taxpayers and childcare recipients are reported along with the figures.
The new investment in childcare will allow for more low-income children to have access to quality childcare. The funding will open up economic opportunities for low-income families, allowing them to participate fully in the workforce, which will also benefit the economy of Madison. The political ideology speaks to equality for all income levels.
Article #3: Gov. Doyle’s cabinet member, Secretary Gassman, presents $10,000 in grants to Wisconsin Rapids childcare agencies, US States News, September 6, 2006.
The facts in this article are quoted from a news release issued by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. It states the total amount of monies to be dispersed as well as the specific 10 recipients and the proposed use for the funds by each childcare center.
The purpose of the grants is to provide educational and professional development opportunities for childcare providers. The government expenditure is based on the belief that giving children the best start early in life will pay ample dividends later.
Article #4: Life’s Work: Putting in the hours and paying the price, The New York Times, December 3, 2006.
The article comments on women who spend too much time at their jobs so that their jobs undermine their health, their relationships with their children and with their spouse. It points out that the “extreme job” situation is detrimental to the employers whose employees lose focus as well as the parents and suggests solutions such as subsidies for after-school care and backup care, and the ability to telecommute. It is supportive of working mothers.
Journalist Lisa Belkin quotes the definition of “extreme job” as working 60 hours or more per week plus 5 additional characteristics out a list of 10, as put forth by the Hidden Brain Drain Task Force of the Center for Work-Life Policy. According to Belkin, the task force arrived at its current statistics of the number of extreme workers from two surveys and dozens of interviews and focus groups. She also interviews task force head Sylvia Hewlett for her interpretation. Belkin also quotes Catalyst, the research and consulting firm that aims to expand opportunities for women at work. The article highlights the price that is paid by some mothers who choose to get ahead in their careers and the need for more flexibility by employers.
Article #5: Nanny Hunt can be a ‘slap in the face’ for blacks, The New York Times, December 26, 2006.
Kantor points out that as more African-Americans move up the economic ladder, access to ‘better’ childcare is often elusive. These parents must often settle for non-credentialed nannies, rely on day care or scale back professional aspirations to spend more time at home.
The facts are derived from personal interviews with four African-American upper middle-class working parents, the owner of Morningside Nannies of Houston/President of the International Nanny Association, owner of Nanny Boutique of Chicago, owner of White House Nannies, a socialworker in Brooklyn who specializes in parent-nanny relationships, and three nannies, Polish, Russian and Jamaican. The sources, although varied, represent subjective views. The article presents an emerging problem of which I imagine few people are aware. As the numbers of these situations increase, more dialog will be necessary.
The main debates/issues illustrated in these articles are how women are pressed to juggle child care and careers and should companies step up to the problem by being more flexible and/or subsidizing childcare; and should various levels of government help out so that parents can work, be productive community members, and fulfill personal goals.
Armour, Belkin, and Kantor are sympathetic to the problems of their interviewees. The purpose of their articles is to make the public aware of childcare concerns that exist and how parents, in particular mothers, struggle with their decisions to hold a job while worrying that their children are being properly cared for. Those mothers who put in extreme hours at their jobs may be financially successful, enough to pay for childcare, but they are depriving the children and spouses of a quality relationship. The articles point out the dilemma of women in the workforce today and how our nation needs to address childcare, parental leave, better afterschool programs and policies to promote flexible work options that don’t force parents to forgo benefits, equitable pay, and career prospects. The local government press releases are more political in nature, touting the ‘good job’ they are doing in the arena of childcare. Political or not, the bottom line is that they are making progress and that is what counts. People should not become complacent about the issue, however, because there is much more to be done. In the instances of these five articles, the media is helpful in portraying a family issue that seriously requires leadership.
No comments:
Post a Comment