David Brooks -- arrgh

David Brooks at the New York Times wrote a column a few days back called “Who’s Afraid of the New Economy” in which he says, basically, that there is no such thing as the middle class squeeze, and that "the main reason incomes have become more volatile over the past decades is motherhood ... As women play a more signficant role in the economy, their movements in and out of the labor force to care for children increase volatility."

[Edited] Wait a sec … aren't these moms, the ones going in and out of jobs, aren't they the ones being squeezed? Here’s Amy Traub’s take over at the Drum Major Institute:

“It's true that having a baby is the leading cause of poverty spells in the U.S., that working mothers are paid less than childless women for the same work, and that married couples with children are twice as likely as childless couples to file for bankruptcy. So what's the upshot, Mr. Brooks: do we fight for paid family leave? Universal pre-school? Health care for all kids? An end to wage discrimination against mothers?

“None of these. For Brooks, the fact that becoming a mother causes family incomes to plummet is simply a way to say that falling pay doesn't matter. Pay no attention to the squeeze: it's mostly the people trying to raise the next generation that are getting the worst of it.”

This isn't about conservative versus liberal or progressive. This is about doing right for families, and for moms, and ignoring the facts about how hard it is for so many mothers trying to take care of their families is wrong. The Drum Major Institute has all the latest stats.

And in case you didn’t click on the link in Amy's last paragraph, about becoming a mother, it takes you to Amy’s announcement of the birth of her son in November – beautiful.

Comments

[Jason]

"Could he be more of a guy?"

Come on, ladies - no need to lump the majority of us in with idiots like Brooks.

[Emily]

OMG, Jason, you are so right. I was having a weak moment of writing before thinking. You know we love you guys, and the David Brooks of the world are their own breed.

The post stands corrected.

[CrankMama]

Ahhh.. Jason is just JEALOUS

[Emily]

CrankMama, what are you thinking in your post over at Strollerderby? Poor David Brooks?

He writes for the most influential paper on the planet, and what he chooses to write about has a huge impact. He's an opinion columnist writing with bias. And in this case he's dismissing significant, often devastating, roadblocks Moms and their families face every day.