The Vanishing Male Worker (Does This Just Apply to Men?!)

[daredtowork]

I thought this was a good article about why the economy based on mcjobs and gig jobs and holiday temp jobs isn't actually a recovering economy: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/upshot/unemployment-the-vanishing-male-worker-how-america-fell-behind.html

But in a way it's a sexist article. Over the last few decades, as more and more women have entered the work place and assumed careers, work has become an important part of their identity, too. Today a lot of women remain unmarried, get divorced, or choose non-heterosexual partnerships. These women lost their jobs in the economic meltdown, too. These women may also feel like society doesn't need them any more, and they have no worth or dignity, if they end up on SSI or dependent on their partner.

This is a really great article. I just think it needs to be updated for the modern era to show that the current economy is an attack on individual autonomy, and that includes the independent, autonomous woman, too.

Signed,

An independent woman of dignity and worth,
who is trying to get back into the mainstream workforce after a long period of disability.

[mythology]

1. I disagree that it's a sexist article

The economic downturn had a larger negative impact on men than on women. It's not sexist to point that out. Especially since two of the reasons why (education level and the jobs traditionally done by men) are accelerating.

Obviously the economic downturn hit women as well, but not to the same level.

[daredtowork]

2. I'm not going to engage over that since I don't want to detour into men's issues

Whether you are right are not, no one is writing about the effect the economy has on female identity and autonomy. There is a place for those articles, too.