#clem speaks🍊

[storges-oranges]

Not to be a depressing feminist and filthy commy on tumblr dot com but I worry about how... prevasive the narrative of "tradwife-ism" is becoming among ppl. Especially young women who are just starting their professional careers.

I get it, work is grueling and eats away your days and the pay you get from it is likely not enough to live a middle class life.

But the fact is that many of the men around you (and thus are likely to end up with) are suffering from the very same socio-economic conditions as you. Jobs are harder to get and harder to keep. You're never safe from company restructuring or from your place of employment being shut down for x y z reasons.

Part time jobs usually meant for students have hundreds of applications, from actual students and others who are just trying to make ends meet. Rent isn't getting any lower and neither are food prices (at least where i am) and everyone will do anything they can to make sure themselves and theirs are kept sheltered and fed.

Social safety nets are being dismantled as we speak and unionizing is difficult (again at least where i am). Nows not the time to try and find leisure and domestic bliss. On the contrary, making sure you are as employable as possible, have as many opportunities and open doors as possible is a necessity now more than ever.

And even that is hard!!!!! Professional certifications cost money, are concentrated in some places, require time that you could (and should!) be used to wind down. But again, this is not a time where your needs are being accounted for, and so I feel we must plan accordingly.

I don't even think that most men wish to lord finances over you, but again they are just as vulnerable to all of the above as women are. Besides, financial strife can make anyone difficult to deal with. We're not at our best when we don't know where our next meal will come from, or when choosing between paying rent or some other bill. Your partner won't 100% turn into an abusive asshole, just a complicated person to deal with. And just look at how we treat downtrodden/homeless ppl who have make the "mistake" of being rude or mildly disagreeable in public.

I just think that, at a time where job security is virtually non-existent, social safety nets are being dismantled and education is under threat of defunding, telling people -women in particular- that they don't need to work is irresponsible.

Being a stay at home spouse/parent is work. It is honorable and much needed work. Unfortunately, it is not work that pays. Yes you probs get something from your spouse, but its not a "wage"/work experience that you can put on a resume.

Most people who come out take certifications/diplomas to start anew and as previously mentioned that can be hard, especially if you have kids to take care of. Finding a remote job is complicated and still eats at more of your time but its better than nothing. Same for part time too. You don't want to start looking when you actually need it.

[gen4grl]

dad red! 🍎🍊