Today's Jobs Numbers Do Not Tell the Full Story of Men and Their Families

[IndianaGreen]

Today's Jobs Numbers Do Not Tell the Full Story of Men and Their Families

Joy Moses
Policy Analyst, Poverty & Prosperity program, Center for American Progress
Posted: March 5, 2010 05:01 PM

Even as the economy benefits from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, and continues to show some signs of being on the mend, today's unemployment numbers continue to demonstrate how badly workers are faring--especially if they are low-wage and/or low-skilled men. In February, those with the least amount of education had an unemployment rate of 15.6% as compared to the general rate which remained static at 9.7%. The unemployment extension that was signed by President Obama earlier this week and the pending jobs bill should provide some relief. However, low-income men are facing serious challenges that reach beyond the impact of the recession and that affect their children and families.

Antipoverty programs are often built around serving women and children, leaving many low-income men out in the cold. Policies focused on children and families must include a greater focus on men, being mindful of the fact that many of these men are fathers who can and do make positive contributions to their children's lives while also helping to lift the economic burden from the backs of low-income women who far too often bear the majority of the cost associated with childrearing. To some this is simply a statement of the obvious. However, many Americans continue to carry negative stereotypes about poor men especially if they are people of color, lack stable employment, face difficulties financially providing for their families, have a criminal record, or possess a combination of these factors.

Policies should be comprehensive and aimed at reconnecting the disconnected. Far too many men, and especially African-American men, are disconnected from employment, but also from society and their families.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joy-moses/todays-jobs-numbers-do-no_b_488054.html

An interesting perspective by Joy Moses on an increasingly grim outlook for many Americans, particularly African-Americans.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. So Many Are So Totally Fucked. Next Time, Let's Vote For Democrats

Real Democrats.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. You go to the ballot box with the Democrats you have

not the Democrats you wished you had.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. How about primaries? nt

[DavidDvorkin]

6. True, there we have a choice

But it's not always a meaningful choice. Locally, it may be, but on the national level, you still have to worry about who can win. In almost all cases, I'd rather have a semi-Democrat in a national office than a Republican.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. We've Done Semi-Democrats For The Last 17 Years

I don't think it's gone well for us.

Time for plan C.

[Greyhound]

4. Quoting Rumsfeld?

Forget the sarcasm tag?

[DavidDvorkin]

5. I wasn't being sarcastic

Yes, I was paraphrasing Rumsfeld, and the paraphrase is apt.

[Berry Cool]

7. How about serving women without children?

Nobody gives a damn about us. It's like we can go hang as far as society is concerned, because we're not moms, so no children are going to suffer if we curl up and die.

[BuelahWitch]

9. +1