The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love, The Price of Motherhood Chapter 11

The current childcare system is composed of the following formula: Mothers care for their own children for free, and child-care workers increasingly care for other peoples' children for the lowest wage in the economy. These are the twin pillars of a child care system based on the exploitation of women, (p. 209).

One could argue, yes but you made the choice to have children. That may be true, but as a woman the options are not really choices, they are decisions. When I became pregnant at twenty I made a decision to have my daughter. I chose not to live with wondering “what could have been” living a life forever plagued by nightmares and never wanting to look a child square in the eye. I could have given my baby up for adoption, but to carry, fall in love, and nurture a baby for nine months and go through the excruciating pain of child birth made adoption not an option for me. For any mother who has done it, her heart and love is far less selfish than mine. I also had a choice to be on birth control. But as cancer runs rampid in my family, one is wise to give a break to the carcinogens. I also had a choice to use a condom, but the choice was made that it “doesn't feel as good.” These aren't really choices, these are decisions that have to be made. A man has only two choices in life when it comes to family planning: should I stay or should I go?Not fair.

What does this mean for a woman who is in the business of childcare? Most childcare centers are loosing the qualified people they want to hire, why? Because these women can't afford to work there. These women are some of the most educated women in society, and we pay them minimum wage. Research has shown that all predominately female jobs are significantly underpaid, “The greater percentage of women in a job, the lower the pay...and those nurturing skills are typically associated with women,” (p. 205). What people call turnover children experience as loss. From a parent in Eau Claire Wisconsin, “The turnover at my child's day care center has caused emotional upheavals each time it occurs. Our son weeps and acts out after a change of providers, (209).

The stress of constant turnover is hard on the children, that's a no brainer. But it is also hard on the parents. I prided myself on the fact that I had found the best childcare in town, and that I knew everyone my daughter came into contact with. But soon the lead teachers got other job offers, and they trickled away. I had to adjust and readjust to a new stranger at least every three months. I felt victimized as I had felt like I failed as a parent, I felt I put my daughter in harms way.

Although most state governments require licensing for dog handlers, they will let almost anyone loose with a baby. In numerous states there are no courses required of child-care providers, no exams to measure knowledge, no certification of skills, and no experience necessary. In some states, a person can be a provider with only a high school diploma. As advocates of higher standards point out, even manicurists are typically required to have more training, (p. 210).
Women and children become the real victims here. Meanwhile, mothers convince their daughter's that they too will have the same opportunity in life as any man. We are clearly living, breathing, telling, and perpetuating the lie.