In a Chicago Tribune commentary, CCF President Barbara Risman and Director of Research Stephanie Coontz reflect on what it means to be a woman – and ‘the’ woman – during the 2016 election cycle. Young women may not be the voters that feminists should be courting…
Topics of Expertise: Feminism & FamiliesOpinion Pieces
Philip Cohen Reponds to International Women’s Day Discourse
For more than 30 years, people concerned about the global inequality between men and women have been circulating the claim that women receive only one-tenth of world income and own only 1 percent of the world’s property. This claim was repeated on CNN and other outlets for International Women’s Day. There is a great deal of gender inequality in the world, and much of the burden of global economic inequality in particular is borne by the women of the poorest countries. However, these facts are simply not true, and it we would all benefit from a better-informed discussion of gender inequality.
Topics of Expertise: Gender & SexualityNew Way to Tally Poor Recasts View of Poverty
The Census Bureau on Monday released what it says is a more accurate measure of poverty in America. The new measure shows more poverty among the elderly, but less among children and African-Americans. It also shows a slightly higher poverty rate for the nation last year — 16 percent compared with 15.2 percent under the official measure — but lower rates among groups who benefit from noncash government programs the official count leaves out, including food stamps and the earned-income tax credit.
Let’s make a rule on sexual harassment
In my mind — and in the law — there are two kinds of sexual harassment. The first kind is quid pro quo and easy to spot. A really detestable (usually) man gives his (usually) female subordinate employee or student an ultimatum: Put out or lose some opportunity, be it a grade, a job or […]
Topics of Expertise: Work & FamilyFrom Steve Jobs to Kids in Foster Care: Lessons During National Adoption Month
With seemingly ceaseless regularity nowadays, most recently in the coverage of Steve Jobs’ passing, we are inundated by conflicting messages relating to adoption. For the next few weeks, the wonder of adoption will be on display. November is National Adoption Awareness Month, so media outlets nationwide will be — and should be — writing stories about children whose lives are improved as a result of moving from foster care into permanent, loving families. President Obama will even issue a proclamation, as he and his predecessors have done routinely in past years, saying something to the effect that our country is blessed by this extraordinary institution.
Topics of Expertise: Adoption & Foster CareNew Jersey’s Historic ‘Civil Union’ Opportunity
The New Jersey Supreme Court has given the state Legislature a historic opportunity, and I don’t mean the chance to allow same-sex couples to marry. The Legislature has the chance to enact civil unions for all couples – same-sex and different-sex. New Zealand does it. So does the Netherlands, under the name “registered partnership.” Maine and the District of Columbia recognize “domestic partnerships” for both straight and gay couples, although both give domestic partners fewer rights than those accorded married couples. Even New Jersey’s current domestic partnership law allows different-sex couples to register – but only if both partners are over 62, presumably a nod to the impact of remarriage on certain pension and retirement benefits.
Topics of Expertise: LGBTQ Partnering & Families / Marriage & DivorceWhy Every Day Should be Father’s AND Mother’s Day
As we celebrate Father’s Day 2011, the 1950s assumption that men take care of tasks outside the home while women take care of tasks inside the home is clearly out of date. In many metropolitan areas, women in their 20s earn more than their male counterparts. At all ages, the percentage of wives out-earning their husbands is growing rapidly. And as women take on a larger share of breadwinning, men have been taking on a larger share of household tasks.
Topics of Expertise: Parenthood: Motherhood/Fatherhood