Working Staying Home and Immigration
Sometimes it's hard to not get annoyed when reading articles about issues that only seem to be an issue when they affect middle/upper class folks. I read something yesterday about how immigration laws in the states need changing b/c women who move from overseas with their techie husbands can't work. I believe they even said something like the women are playing tennis to alleviate the boredom of being relegated to being mere housewives.
I have a lot of sympathy for anyone whose ability to chose their lifestyle is compromised but frankly the wives of Silicon Valley are hardly the people I think of first when I think of the serious need for immigration reform. Wives inability to work when in country accompanying their husbands is a long standing problem that while it inconveniences those with husbands in highly lucrative fields has a larger negative impact on those whose husbands are just starting out or simply in a job that is a good opportunity, won't support the family for whatever reason.
The other thing that is a legit issue is the forced dependence on the spouse with the job. Of course this isn't just a problem women face when immigrating. Women have traditionally been the ones whose careers take a backseat or don't even get off the ground b/c the husband has higher earning potential so his is the job the family revolves around as far as moves, personal time off to deal with children/family even allocation of family funds in terms of schooling, training, or wardrobes. There is nothing wrong with families deciding that one person will get the focus and the other will be the support. Where it gets problematic is when the sacrifices are assumed always in the favor of one party. Even if that assumption comes from outside sources it can cause tension.
It's a complicated issue that I think needs a lot of looking into but framing it as a problem for the elite without acknowledging how many people are effected by it does no one any favors.
I have a lot of sympathy for anyone whose ability to chose their lifestyle is compromised but frankly the wives of Silicon Valley are hardly the people I think of first when I think of the serious need for immigration reform. Wives inability to work when in country accompanying their husbands is a long standing problem that while it inconveniences those with husbands in highly lucrative fields has a larger negative impact on those whose husbands are just starting out or simply in a job that is a good opportunity, won't support the family for whatever reason.
The other thing that is a legit issue is the forced dependence on the spouse with the job. Of course this isn't just a problem women face when immigrating. Women have traditionally been the ones whose careers take a backseat or don't even get off the ground b/c the husband has higher earning potential so his is the job the family revolves around as far as moves, personal time off to deal with children/family even allocation of family funds in terms of schooling, training, or wardrobes. There is nothing wrong with families deciding that one person will get the focus and the other will be the support. Where it gets problematic is when the sacrifices are assumed always in the favor of one party. Even if that assumption comes from outside sources it can cause tension.
It's a complicated issue that I think needs a lot of looking into but framing it as a problem for the elite without acknowledging how many people are effected by it does no one any favors.
Comments
Post a Comment