The Labor Of Love (Throwback)

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NPR

Society & Culture, History, Documentary

4.7 • 15K Ratings

🗓️ 9 May 2024

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There's a powerful fantasy in American society: the fantasy of the ideal mother. This mother is devoted to her family above all else. She raises the kids, volunteers at the school, cleans the house, plans the birthday parties, cares for her own parents. She's a natural nurturer. And she's happy to do it all for free.Problem is? She's imaginary. And yet the idea of her permeates our culture, our economy, and our social policy – and it distorts them. The U.S. doesn't have universal health insurance or universal childcare. We don't have federally mandated paid family leave or a meaningful social safety net for when times get rough. Instead, we have this imaginary mother. We've structured our society as though she exists — but she doesn't. And we all pay the real-life price.Today on the show, we look at three myths that sustain the fantasy: the maternal instinct, the doting housewife, and the welfare queen. And we tell the stories of real-life people – some mothers, some not – who have fought for a much more generous vision of family, labor, and care.

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Transcript

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0:18.0	You know, I felt like I did all the things that you're supposed to do.
0:22.0	I read all of the books and I went to the
0:24.0	prenatal classes and I felt like pretty well educated I guess. And then my son arrived.
0:55.0	When he was born he was five pounds, 12 ounces and when they put him on my chest for the first time I just said he's so tiny he's so tiny. He's so tiny.
0:59.0	I of course like was overwhelmed with joy and awe and wonder at this little creature.
1:10.0	That sentiment of like, wow, he's so small and vulnerable,
1:16.1	and now I'm in charge of him,
1:18.8	really was also very big for me.
1:26.6	The transition to parenthood is like a really powerful time of growth. But in any kind of growth there's a cost to it. And I just
1:41.0	I felt a lot of worry.
1:46.0	Mother, you promised 10 dinner ring at 6 o'clock.
1:51.0	You need to be around that baby around the clock. You're not compensated and all
1:55.7	sudden you're paying. Motherhood is a hard unending chore.
1:59.5	Mommy, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, the United States is one of just seven countries in the world without national paid maternity leave.
2:06.0	It's a week since I've delivered.
2:08.0	How could I be expected to work at this moment?
2:10.0	My entire paycheck goes to the daycare.
2:12.6	They're a beautiful experience and the most rewarding experience.
	...

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