The demand for free childcare dropped from new list of feminist demands

[foreverastudent]

I went to a talk by Kristin Aune, co-author of Reclaiming the F-word:the new feminist revolution.

She was very good but I was a bit that in their reworking of the 7 demands of the feminist movement the demand for "free 24 hour community-controlled nurseries" has been dropped. There is a more general demand for 'equality at work and home' but I dont think that's sufficient.

I think the childcare demand does need some reworking and needs to include the demand for child-frinedly public spaces and child-friendly timings of work/leisure.

Have feminists given up on childcare?

BTW she was aware of the feminist topic on Mumsnet so may be a poster/lurker

I think I'd go back closer to the original, taking them as a starting point I'm going to try:

1. Equal pay

1. Equal educational and job opportunities, including equal representation of women in politics.

1. Free Contraception and Abortion on Demand

1. A recognition of the economic value of caring work in the benefit & tax system

1. Legal and Financial Independence for All Women, including the right to decide and consent to what happens to our bodies.

1. The Right to a Self Defined Sexuality.

1. Freedom for all women from intimidation by the threat or use of violence or sexual coercion regardless of marital status; and an end to the laws, assumptions and institutions which perpetuate male dominance and aggression to women. Freedom from incitement to gender hatred [?! - am looking for something similar to incitement of racial hatred laws that retain freedom of speech but stop some of the worst popular culture offences]

4 - "Fair recognition" rather than "A recognition"

to query no4,do you mean pay sahp?

carer should receive more support and respite,their input is woefully under recognised

4 - I don't have a full answer/manifesto. It could be pay. It could be through mechanisms like CB and CTC - and somehow an extension of these in to other aspects of 'wifework'?

As well as the practical aspects of having enough money, I think putting a tangible £ value on this time would also change attitudes and perception of equality/justice.

I've heard other people on here with suggestions in this area (eg a 'citizen wage'?). Suspect various groups have made proposals? Maybe someone else can add?

I was also going to say something about extending (4) so that it encompassed fair pay for professional / out-of-the-home caring work. But actually that is covered by (1).

what does professional / out-of-the-home caring work actually mean.what examples do you have in mind

I'm thinking of things like home carers who go in to help elderly, respite carers, health care assistants. Jobs that were traditionally for women, and low paid. Some of it is of course being addressed as the Equal Pay legislation is enforced.

a universal wage for doing nowt?dear god thats risible.and costly

hca are employed by nhs and receive wages like everyone eles.they aren't special case

SGM - do you know how close the proposed 'universal benefit' will come to that? If it's a simple enough system, and pays at a living wage level, then would meet the criteria?

(Hark at me, almost supporting a Tory policy - I await correction )

home care/hca/respite all employed by nhs or local authority or agencies,theyt have contracts,a min wage and t&c.they aren't special group of workers needing specifc attention

By "professional / out-of-the-home" I did mean people that do it for a paid job.

HCAs are surely a great example of a mainly female group of workers that the idea of Equal Pay legislation is aimed at?

home care/hca/respite all employed by nhs or local authority or agencies,theyt have contracts,a min wage and t&c.they aren't special group of workers needing specifc attention

Before legislation got(gets) enforced, workers doing undervalued "women's" work definitely were (are) a special group of workers needing specific attention. That's the point.

See all the stuff ever written on mn about the gender pay gap, see the many pay discrimination claims lost by local authorities over the last couple of years etc.

On the universal benefit issue - yes, I think the problem will be the level at which it is set. But could be a step in the right direction - if believe the approach can be built on.

In effect - but making it a "wage" rather than "lots of bits of benefits stuck together" could be more empowering? Treats everyone in a more grown-up manner? You do need to have faith in human nature to make it seem sensible.

God that list of demands is a bit rubbish isn't it? Could mean anything:

1. Liberated bodies - freedom to pole-dance in the street, or walk around with your cock out.

1. Sexual Freedom and Choice - to go to prostitutes for example, or have sex with 13 year olds.

1. An End to Violence Against Women - fine

1. Equality at Work and Home - fine but who's to measure and say?

1. Politics and Religion Transformed - into what? A Handmaids Tale-esque uber-patriarchy? The church of the living pot noodle?

1. Popular Culture Free from Sexism - fine

1. Feminism Reclaimed - and transformed into darling little rag rugs. Again - what does this mean? And surely if the demands are all met then feminism will no longer be needed?