Ian Duncan-smith says unmarried men are a problem for society

[QuentinSummers]

m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/uk_59d3b8f9e4b04b9f92054af5
Seems to me there are undertones that women should be controlling men better.

Also quite a lot of blatant sexism such as men who aren't married develop "low value for women" which suggests to me that the value women hold is intrinsicly linked to their chastity/marriageability to ID'S

Interested to hear what others think because I'm being a bit inarticulate on this.

'And although providing more for stay at home mothers will make them more independent, it also doesn't take into account women who want to develop a career, but struggle due to childcare.'

Why can't this be done also? I thought it was the case in at least one of the Scandinavian countries that a childcare allowance was paid either for being a SAHP or into childcare for a WOHP.

There's a report on Scandinavian countries and families here (from a few years ago):

library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/11106.pdf

Norway, Finland and Sweden are mentioned as all offering 'cash for care' to SAHPs as an alternative to childcare.

It's also worth pointing out that according to the figures, most women with a child under three are not in the workplace. They are either SAHPs or on maternity leave. Also, there were no children under one in childcare in Sweden, because parental leave is longer than a year.

Thanks that link Sylvia. I will have a read.

It does feel to me as though the Nordic countries are more progressive about women's rights, in general. And I, personally, noticed a far less sexist attitude when I was there. I was looking for it, so could note it.

I don't know how the economics works, though, although I know they have a high tax programme.

I'll have a read, and see what it says.