The lack of affordable childcare in the United States is an issue that has been negatively impacting women for a very long time. The United States childcare costs are some of the highest in the world. Unfortunately, this issue has had a larger impact on women over men. As a result, women’s career opportunities have been limited. In addition, this issue has reinforced traditional gender roles and kept women inside of the house. This issue is one that needs to be reevaluated as a whole. Looking into potential solutions such as universal healthcare would be a large help to families that are struggling.
Childcare costs have made many families’ situations extremely complicated. Especially in recent years with the numbers only getting higher. Facilities and services that once provided care for young children, are no longer as affordable as they used to be. This truly is a shame. In a modern world like today, trustworthy facilities should be readily available for families so that both parents can work and bring home an adequate amount of money. Unfortunately, it is common today that women have to work less hours or even quit their job in order to take care of the children. With gender pay gaps and traditional family views, it is common today that women have to be the one that steps up and watches the children. This is an unfortunate reality today that has prevented so many women from pursuing careers of interests and being able to work.
Today families spend 10% or more of their income on childcare. This is a ridiculously high number for family’s to afford. It is often cheaper for a member of the family to stay home and work themselves. Unfortunately today, this member is often the woman of the family. It is common today for women to simply give up there careers and leave there jobs as a whole to go raise families. When women take these long periods of time to leave the workforce and go raise children. It often makes it harder for them to rejoin the workforce in the future. That long term gap on a resume doesn’t look good to companies and often prevents so many women from getting hired in the future. This impacts our society and makes us miss out on so many capable women that could provide help and work hard for our community. Unfortunately, due to gender norms in todays society. It is rarely ever the man that quits his jobs and stays home for the family. Unfortunately this issue disproportionately affects women.
In terms of what can be done to combat this issue. It’s important to shed some light on the idea of high quality affordable childcare. Universal childcare is a concept that has been successfully added to cultures in other countries such as Sweden. More funding for childcare would be the most appropriate way to combat this issue. Having safe affordable childcare for families would allow parents to go back to work and potentially be a great help to the economy as a whole. The idea of universal child care should be a priority for the people of the United States. This issue’s negative affects on women has done enough damage and ended enough careers. Raising awareness on this issue and being vocal about change is a necessity.
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