Economy is driving women to stay home

Star Tribune ^ | July 21, 2008 | LOUIS UCHITELLE

[Finalapproach29er]

As in all aspects of life, nobody really knows anything about women.

[imskylark]

Thanks. I had just got ticked off by someone else who made me feel unappreciated and my list was more to make me feel better than anything else. :-)

[expat_panama]

"...or neither is true."

That one's my pick; so many made up 'facts' in the tract makes it something only an Obamafan could swallow...

[ViLaLuz]

Wow, how do you grind wheat?

[Claud]

Ah, well working for the same company and spending time together on lunch and breaks makes a big difference! We were working for different companies miles away, eating lunch with other people.

I can definitely see how working together and hanging out during the day might be better than him working late, you being at home and barely seeing him. Can you lean on him to come home earlier and spend some time with the family? Or have you already tried that ad nauseam LOL

[Claud]

I never thought about the arguing more but I think you’re right. When everyone’s tired and cranky and hungry and dinner still needs to be made, that’s a problem! :)

My wife has been doing some work from home and might soon be doing some more as well. I think wives doing part-time work is a great way to boost the family income. But she doesn’t want to do 9 to 5 ever again, and I totally agree.

[luckystarmom]

ad nauseam is correct!!!!

[katykelly]

Well, it sounds like you are an executive secretary and more.

[imskylark]

“Wow, how do you grind wheat?”

With a grain mill. It’s electric.

I do have a hand mill that I will crack grain with. Cracked wheat and oatmeal makes a great breakfast.

[PapaBear3625]

That was not the case when I was working. It does if you have kids, but not when there are only 2 people.

I had primarily meant couples with kids, and had forgotten to add day care to the list. A two-earner childless couple is workable, but when you add a few kids to the mix the numbers don't work out unless both are high earning professionals

[Sopater]

I don’t know you, but I certainly appreciate what you’re doing. Our country is going to survive because of parents like you who are doing the right things in order to raise their children to become great Americans. Thank you.

[Hardastarboard]

I am convinced that the whole "women in the workforce" movement was a way for the government to fund more of their pet programs. Most of their revenue comes from income tax, after all. One way to immediately double it is to increase the number of people working.

Given that so many marriages end up in divorce, and taxes are so high, I suspect most women feel they have to have a job as a hedge against those economic uncertainties.

[ladyjane]

The income tax on additional income is another factor. If Obama gets elected it will be worse. Much worse.

[luckystarmom]

I don’t believe that. I do think women wanted more choices for their future. I think there are women that don’t want to have kids and be housewives. I have a cousin like that, and she is president of her own architecture firm.

I do think that the government seizes any opportunity to grasp at any money they can, and they have certainly seized on to this.

[luckystarmom]

I would love to be working part-time, but I can’t figure out anything that would make enough money to make it worthwhile.

I have a degree in engineering, but I can’t do that part-time.

I’ve substitute taught, but you only make $10/hour. By the time you take out taxes, it just wasn’t worth it.