I completed the much-watched Netflix series maid All weekend. I hesitated for a few weeks because I knew how difficult it would be to watch. Trust me when I say that I recognize the great privilege of this sentence, but I have never experienced anything like it myself in my own life.
As a mother of a toddler, I find this series particularly sad. National conversations around livable wages, workers’ rights, affordable childcare, and paid leave are all highlighted in Maid’s description of the cycle of poverty and abuse. But I think Maid also touched the nerves, because it is impossible not to see how it changes. The change in environment or opportunity may be me. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a safe, food, stable, educated and supportive family. I am lucky to have a partner to share the responsibilities of my parents, and I feel safe to be with him. What if I didn’t? One of the most painful scenes is that Alex’s daughter, Maddie, suffers from a long-term illness due to black mold in the apartment. Alex took her to the doctor, and the doctor said, “You must do better.” The reality of doing my best for the child and doing my best for the child is still so helpless, it is heartbreaking just to think about it.
The maid was inspired by this book Maid: hard work, low salary, and mother’s will to survive Stephanie Rand did not give up too much, and the series had a relatively happy ending. I can’t help but think that reality is not the case. As of 2018, the country’s poverty rate for single mothers is 34%, which is not surprising, because the United States is one of seven countries without national paid maternity leave and the only developed country that has no paid sick leave at all. Although many of us have recently shared personal stories about the difficulties this has caused in our lives, the maid has emphasized the devastating impact of this on people living in poverty, especially single mothers.
Although the maid portrays the experiences of white women, black and native women suffer from intimate partner violence at a disproportionately high rate in the United States. Approximately 45% of black women have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. More than 84% of indigenous women have experienced violence in their lifetime. In the United States, blacks have the highest poverty rate at over 18%, followed by Hispanics at over 15%. Black and Aboriginal children have the highest proportion of poor children (34% each).
In “The Maid”, Alex’s inability to get childcare services is one of her biggest difficulties. This topic has recently become one of the frequently discussed topics because Congress continues to discuss whether childcare services are infrastructure (it is). According to recent survey results, infant and child care services in many states can only meet the needs of one-fifth of children. The lack of access to childcare services, let alone affordable childcare services, makes it impossible for women to work. Most daycares will not accept babies younger than 6 weeks, but the current debate on national paid leave will cover 4 weeks, which is not yet available. The salaries of infant educators are also low, so although many people cannot afford childcare, early education is one of the lowest paid occupations in the country.
In retrospect, the maid was very painful and ugly, because a lot of pain could be avoided. In terms of social spending as a percentage of GDP, the United States ranks 20th among 38 OECD countries. In terms of public unemployment expenditure, it ranks 35th (almost the last). In terms of household welfare expenditure as a percentage of GDP, it ranks second from the bottom. The United States is one of the richest countries in the world. It also has one of the largest gaps between rich and poor.
Although members of Congress debate whether parenting is infrastructure and how many weeks of paid vacation we deserve, at least half of the people in this country live on pay. Just a few days ago, The Democrats in the House of Representatives passed the “Rebuild Better Act” with a narrow marginIt will provide free universal preschool classes, childcare subsidies, 4 weeks of paid vacation, reduced medical insurance premiums, and expansion of affordable housing. Not a single Republican in the House of Representatives voted for the bill. The maid reminds people that acts of kindness and generosity can have a huge impact. This also proves the fact that it is more important than ever to vote for the office of those who will fail in their efforts to change the system.
National Domestic Violence Hotline Available hereBefore the holiday, I will organize donations to the local women’s shelter (Vermont/New Hampshire). If you are in the area and want to contribute, I will share more information about this soon.If you want to donate to women’s shelters in your area, I created a Google Sheet here, You can also add one at will.Have Here is also a directory Provide more shelters across the country.
source:
thoriumelectronic U.S. work status
