The Safety Net

Outside the US, where more women are unpaid occupational homemakers, there is growing concern for the economic welfare of family members who cook, clean, and care for their loved ones without concern for themselves in almost any regard. In India, as pointed out here, the question has reached political proportions.

Homemaking is sort of like volunteering for the Peace Corps, except you don’t get a stipend – or even credit for working at all. Don’t try to put Homemaking on your resume or CVs. It will not get you hired.

To be a successful Homemaker you must have the emotional intelligence of a saint, the energy of a rodeo cowboy (every day) while renouncing all worldly ambition – like a monk for whom cleaning house is a sand mandala – beauty created only to be destroyed.

There are perks to the job, of course. I feel blessed that I can contribute to our family’s success by creating a solid base for us to call home. My contribution at home far out-weighs any wages I could bring in, especially working part time.

But I am reminded each time those SSA retirement statements arrive just how little cash value is credited to my account. What exists reflects the few quarters of paid work put in outside the home when I was much younger.  It shows how little there will be for me when I am old, and presumably both frail and alone, (according to statistics).

The situation is noted in this article by Carly Stern, but even so left unsaid. To be plain: It is worse if God forbid, I should become injured during my workday at home.  In the US, there is currently no disability protection for Homemakers injured on the job.

Let that sink in. Now consider that most accidents happen at home, and …it seems someone might have noticed sooner.

In Washington and Hawaii an attempt is being made – and “Brava!” for that!

Still, wouldn’t it be nice if Homemakers had a safety net, too?