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Moving on to Mothers Rights: Joan Blades Speaks at the BPL |
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Thursday, 18 October 2007 |
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Thurs. Oct. 18 MoveOn.org – the major liberal advocacy on-line community - was started back in 1998, by a frustrated west coast wife-husband team of Joan Blades and Wes Boyd. "We had no idea what we were doing," says Blades. "This was an accidental acci dent." They were fed up with the Bill Clinton impeachment hearings and wanted America’s attention turned to other things. "In theory," Blades says, dryly, "government should have more important business to do." They never expected their grassroots movement would blossom into a network encompassing 3 million members and their advocacy would expand to cover environmental, health care and war issues. "I have learned in the last nine years how important it is to have people engaged in the democratic process," says Blades, whose organization – of which she’s on the board – caught right-wing flak for its portrayal of General Patreus. (They objected that his political views should get a free pass because he was wearing a military uniform and called him Gen. Bertrayus.) Three years ago, Blades, who has two children, happened upon another issue in which she was sure she could rally supporters: mothers rights, especially in the workplace. Last year, she founded www.MomsRising.org in the spirit of MoveOn. It has about 100,000 members. "I learned there is much bias mothers," she says. "When I saw the wage gap between working mothers and working women, working mothers were making so much less. And they were 79 percent less likely to be hired. It’s not something we think about. There’s this 1950s-style work expectation. But most mothers need to work; it’s not something they’re doing for recreation." Blades speaks about the issue in her book, "The Motherhood Manifesto" – with a drawing of Rosie the Riveter on the cover – and she wil do so an open discussion Thursday Oct. 18 at the Boston Public Library’s Rabb Auditorium at 6:30. Free.
"Some employers understand mothers are more committed, more reliable, and have great organizational skills," says Blades, "but they also know they can take advantage of them. There has been some change (in hiring) on the high end, to be honest. There’s too much of a brain train. There are too many talented women leving work who can’t work a 60-hour work week. It’s in their best interest to recognize these people." But on the lower-middle end, says Blades, employers don’t wan to pay extra benefits – and kids get sick. You can have great references, and a great resume. You could not get a job. You are not allowed to ask about race or religion, but you can ask if are you married and have kids. And it’s a cultural issue. We have not recognized women have to work to put food on the table. Rosie the Riveter is the icon and she had kids. That’s what we’re in denial about - 82 percent of women have kids by age 41. We have childcare that’s substandard as well as after-school programs. There’s a sense that someone should be home taking care of the kids, but that’s not possible for a huge number of families. Everybody is struggling with this, but it’s not a front page issue." What does MomsRising share with MoveOn? "This is very different," says Blades. "MoveOn became a voice for progressives. This crosses partisan lines, economic lines. And all these issues touch men as well, which is why we created FamiliesRising.org. … MomsRising has the potential to reach vast number of citizens because it’s about issues that touch us all. We have more in common than what separates us and we need to build bridges. Parents take a long view, Too many corporate leaders take a quarterly view; elected politicians look to the next election. We look to the next generation thrive. And we’re worried our kids will have less than we do. 700 Boylston St, 617-536-5400 www.bpl.org |
