Women and children last
Subtitle: the plight of poor women in affluent America
By: Ruth Sidel.
Edition: Rev. and updated
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 1992
Place of publication: New York, N.Y., U.S.A
Language: eng
Number of pages: 250
Subjects: Poor women -- United States.; Public welfare -- United States.; Family policy -- United States.
Description: Comparing the affluent U.S. of today to the Titanic (which, as a luxury liner, nevertheless lacked lifeboats for steerage women and children), Sidel contends in this realistic appraisal that despite the women's movement, social and economic trends of the last 20 years, especially the divorce rate and mechanization of industry, have reduced to bare survival hundreds of thousands of already impoverished women and children. Many are older women, battered wives or female heads of families, asserts Sidel (who interviewed several of them), and they are often victims of sex and racial discrimination in the workplace or of government cutbacks in human services. Following Sweden's example, the U.S., she argues, should develop policies to strengthen family life through universal entitlements; should pay women better wages, provide family planning, maternity leaves and prenatal care, along with day and after-school care.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 222-242) and index.