It is the decision to have children which creates an economic gap that widens over time. A father, too, will earn less than his childless co-workers. Crittenden reports that the longer a woman postpones child-bearing, the higher her lifetime earnings will be, and women are getting the message. We have known for some time that there is not much status or respect in this country for those who raise children, and most of them are women. Crittenden, who makes a number of policy proposals that will never see the light of day in this country, demonstrates that there is also economic exploitation.
Parents receive enormous gratification in exchange for the devotion they lavish on their children.
There are other people who feel passionate about their work, too, and who aren't in it for money. But they are not paid less because of that devotion. Certainly the women, and men, who are raising children should not be. Read the SunSpot.net User Agreement for our policies on copyright, reader privacy and bulletin boards. Powered by Genuity.