I see that as long as any kind of social transfer is involved rich women are as capable of “getting themselves pregnant” as teenage girls are claimed to be. Because conception is something that women and girls do to themselves, presumably by deliberately and irresponsibly walking through a cloud of anonymous, minding-its-own-business sperm somewhere. Apparently, these same women then gestate, sitting back and waiting for the spoils to come their way. How unfortunate that men can not avail themselves of the incredible opportunities presented by motherhood, like lower earnings capacity, increased job insecurity, drive-by judgementalism and diminished status.
Note that in the election debate “the pretty little lady lawyer on the northshore is having a kid” (a sentiment I have seen expressed multiple times elsewhere during the campaign), and that the rich women in the meme, above, are “breeding”.. telling expressions.. because exactly where are the fathers in this condemnation? And why are children not part of our community, why are they not somebody whose interests we deem worthy of consideration in an election?
I’m not a huge fan of Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme, (although I appreciate the progressiveness of treating maternity leave like other forms of workplace leave, I don’t believe the scheme is there to address a genuine policy problem and its funding is likely coming at the expense of funding opportunities for other big policy problems).. but I could do without the sexist claptrap in the discussion.
[…] Cross-posted at blue milk. […]
It’s such a difficult debate to weigh into sometimes, as the base understanding in the community of the fact that women breeding is actually the bedrock of our way of life/economy is so low!
We have a quick post on feminaust.org prompted by that same comment during the election campaign.
http://feminaust.org/2013/08/29/the-coalitions-paid-parental-leave-policy/
This, this, THIS is why I love you so:
“Because conception is something that women and girls do to themselves, presumably by deliberately and irresponsibly walking through a cloud of anonymous, minding-its-own-business sperm somewhere. Apparently, these same women then gestate, sitting back and waiting for the spoils to come their way. How unfortunate that men can not avail themselves of the incredible opportunities presented by motherhood, like lower earnings capacity, increased job insecurity, drive-by judgementalism and diminished status.”
Bloody brilliant writing, my friend.
That is really quite an image. Not sure how to get it out of my head now. Perhaps with an earworm?
Beautifully written, Bluemilk.
The truth for me about both sides’ paid maternity leave schemes:
I can’t get excited about either. Why? Because my current employment is on a long contract basis. And I technically have access to paid and unpaid mat leave through my employer… Until my contract ends. Then I’m shit out of luck. And a job.
So if anyone could give me the right to return to my fucking job, or even better permanency, then I might have more energy to care about the way the leave schemes look. In the meantime I am back to (a) hoping I keep getting contracts until I am set up to have kids in a few years’ time (b) planning to get at least an 18 month contract and THEN hopefully fall pregnant riiiight after I get the contract, have baby 9ish months into contract, take a few months’ leave and THEN be able to return to work before my contract expires.
Bonus round of lack of excitement: I don’t believe Abbott would implement his scheme in its current form – too many dissenting members from his own party. It’ll get majorly watered down if it passes at all. Rudd’s is less generous, not as different and thus more realistic.
My employers bullied me until I was forced to resign – no paid parental leave for me!
I thought the exact same thing – I don’t support Abbott’s regressive scheme but like many lefties, the meme maker failed with the gender politics.