Critique The Mommy Tax by Ann Crittenden - Essay Example

Critique "The Mommy Tax" by Ann Crittenden Perhaps the most overarching quote within Crittenden’s text is when she s, “The point being made wasthat American women now make ninety-eight cents to a man’s dollar and have therefore achieved complete equality in the workplace” (Crittenden as cited in Kirk & Okazawa-Re). For Crittenden this statement is significant not simply because what it demonstrates about workplace inequality, but what it also indicates about mother’s in the workplace.

Traditional feminist perspectives have criticized such income disparity in terms of a general notion that such disparity is indicative of an oppressive social system. Notably, Crittenden’s perspectives in regards to this statement extend beyond these earlier considerations as she additionally argues that this income disparity is linked to the women’s role as potential mother. She argues that one of the central desires of the workplace is have workers that are entirely unencumbered so that they can be entirely devoted to their employment.

Women then present a challenge to this paradigm as if they have or may children they could be hindered in their job duties. For Crittenden then this constitutes a ‘mommy tax’. She believes that social activists should address this added tax in pro-active ways. Crittenden further criticizes this income disparity from a variety of perspectives. She articulates her own experience having children and having lost out of a significant amount of income. Additionally she notes that individuals in the highest paying jobs face the great challenges as they have the most skill and responsibility considerations.

She notes that such distinctions between men and women have existed at least as early as the Bible. In current practice they take on a significant amount of importance as women who are childless make more than women who have children. There are a number of further contributing elements that researchers have identified. One considers that oftentimes workplaces refrain from paying maternity leave. Oftentimes mother’s work part time and are believed to have a recreational attitude towards work.

Ultimately, Crittenden argues that the government should extend financial benefits towards mother, as well develop a more comprehensive take on anti-discriminatory practices. While Crittenden’s recognition that there is a tax on mothers in the work place is valid, it seems that such a tax is an in-born part of the financial system. In these regards, mothers truly do contribute less than individuals that are less encumbered by children. One of Crittenden’s crucial points is that the higher paying the job becomes the more there is a tax.

Crittenden’s issue then is not oppressive work practices, but rather the very structure of the economic system. While the somber reality is that if women have children they will be required to earn less money then their counterparts that chose not to have children, it should not be the government’s responsibility to subsidize their decision-making. One considers that if individuals were to implement Crittenden’s solutions then women who chose not to have children would then be discriminated against, and there would be added pressure on these individuals.

ReferencesKirk, Gwyn, Okazawa-Re, Margo. Womens Lives 5th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Humanities