Women as the Unpaid Backbone of the Economy
Jessica Calarco’s Holding It Together provides a stark and compelling analysis of how gender roles, cultivated in the mundane interactions of everyday life, have profound implications for the broader economic landscape. The book illuminates how women have become the de facto safety net for American society, shouldering an disproportionate burden of care work and low-wage labor.
At the heart of Calarco’s argument is the notion that gender roles, often perceived as private and personal, are deeply intertwined with public structures and economic systems. Traditionally assigned roles, where women are primary caregivers and men are breadwinners, have shaped expectations and behaviors in ways that reinforce economic inequality. This dynamic is evident in the disproportionate number of women in low-wage jobs, such as caregiving and service industries. These roles, often undervalued and underpaid, are essential for the functioning of the economy but do little to advance women’s economic security.
Moreover, the unpaid care work undertaken primarily by women — child rearing, elder care, and household management — is crucial for maintaining a productive workforce. Without this invisible labor, the economy would grind to a halt. Yet, this work is largely unrecognized and unrewarded, contributing to the gender wage gap and perpetuating economic disparities.
Calarco’s research highlights how these gendered roles are not merely personal choices but are shaped by broader societal structures and policies. The lack of affordable childcare, flexible work arrangements, and adequate social safety nets forces women into caregiving roles, limiting their economic opportunities. This, in turn, reinforces the gendered division of labor, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates economic inequality.
In conclusion, Calarco’s work underscores the critical connection between gender roles and economic structures. By examining how women are disproportionately burdened with care work and low-wage labor, she reveals the hidden costs of a system that relies on women as its safety net. Addressing this issue requires a fundamental rethinking of gender roles, as well as significant investments in social infrastructure and policies that support both women and families.
