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Saying "housewives don't make financial contributions in homes" is wrong.
Domestic care work and child care work (esp. early child care), are valuable by ANY metric, whether time/resource input, time saved to the man in work he doesn't have to do, task skill, management etc.
Domestic care work and child care work (esp. early child care), are valuable by ANY metric, whether time/resource input, time saved to the man in work he doesn't have to do, task skill, management etc.
In fact my favourite metric may be "time saved to the man in work he doesn't have to do" because it might be the easiest to swing remuneration around if it became a legal quantity.
Capitalism and patriarchy don't play games in valuing men's time
Capitalism and patriarchy don't play games in valuing men's time
"Time saved" is also a great metric for valuing domestic worker unit hours, by those in households who hire them.
For as long as we refuse to value work done by ALL domestic workers especially in Africa, housewife contributions will be devalued.
This excel sheet doesn't lie.
For as long as we refuse to value work done by ALL domestic workers especially in Africa, housewife contributions will be devalued.
This excel sheet doesn't lie.
Please as a household, by all means, continue to assert your right to pay a domestic worker minimum wage or less.
Same same snake will come to bite you when the law says the work a woman does that is not "financial contribution" in a household is useless.
Same same snake will come to bite you when the law says the work a woman does that is not "financial contribution" in a household is useless.
Looking at things this way, through the lens of value to men in a patriarchy, it's easy to see sex work is directly related to the value of erotic labour, to men/in a household. Using men's wellbeing as a metric, of course, since it is the only one that anyone thinks matters 
This is not an original thought. Brilliant scholars have put far better words and voice to theories/philosophies of reparation, and who they should value if things had to go on an Excel sheet.
Use the valued quantity as the measure of value if you really want to shake tables.
Use the valued quantity as the measure of value if you really want to shake tables.
This is also the time to add who the idea of "contribution" to a "household" erases/devalues by default, because we use "labour" and "work" as matrices.
The household is defined heterosexually by patriarchy.
Everything/one else is put under "terms and conditions apply".
The household is defined heterosexually by patriarchy.
Everything/one else is put under "terms and conditions apply".
That's why there are so many fake debates about who qualifies as a household or not. Governments, churches and societies want to put caps on who they should value.
Note, though: they will take taxes, tithes and contributions from EVERYONE and spend it all from one pot.
Note, though: they will take taxes, tithes and contributions from EVERYONE and spend it all from one pot.
All of these entities extract labour and value from everyone, but they only want to "remunerate" who and where they define value.
Scams have been out here for centuries.
Everyone in the nation is taxed one way or another. VAT etc.
But not all of us get roads, healthcare etc.
Scams have been out here for centuries.
Everyone in the nation is taxed one way or another. VAT etc.
But not all of us get roads, healthcare etc.
That's why people don't take the work of building accessible buildings and roads seriously.
We made highways with no pedestrian walkways and (motor)cyclist paths.
It shows whose movement is considered valuable in the grand scheme.
But will all of us repay those loans? Yes.
We made highways with no pedestrian walkways and (motor)cyclist paths.
It shows whose movement is considered valuable in the grand scheme.
But will all of us repay those loans? Yes.
It is impossible to discuss value, access and contribution without considering grand crimes to people living with disability globally.
It is value projection that states and societies don't invest in their movement in/access to the EXACT same life abled people take for granted.
It is value projection that states and societies don't invest in their movement in/access to the EXACT same life abled people take for granted.
This is why it is infinitely insulting when abled people clap for folk living with disability to tell them how "inspiring" they are.
For clearing hurdles no abled person has to deal with, put there by default by the criminal, active neglect of laws, policies and systems.
For clearing hurdles no abled person has to deal with, put there by default by the criminal, active neglect of laws, policies and systems.
I could go on.
The work of being an actual ally:
- looking critically at things that you don't have to work for that others do,
- accepting things you don't get punished/stressed for that others are,
- seeing what bridges need building,
- working alone/together towards that.
The work of being an actual ally:
- looking critically at things that you don't have to work for that others do,
- accepting things you don't get punished/stressed for that others are,
- seeing what bridges need building,
- working alone/together towards that.
This is why He For She is tragic.
Anyone can do a speech about being a He who is here for Shes.
But until we REALLY unpack why patriarchy maintains legal systems and quasilegal policy that enable a universe of reproductive health limits for women/marginalised folk, it is all air
Anyone can do a speech about being a He who is here for Shes.
But until we REALLY unpack why patriarchy maintains legal systems and quasilegal policy that enable a universe of reproductive health limits for women/marginalised folk, it is all air
In conclusion.
Systems like to hoodwink people into avoiding recognition of inequalities. For instance, we pray and apparently we are all equal. We open our eyes and gender decides who goes to serve tea. Sexual orientation meanwhile is deciding who even gets to enter.
Systems like to hoodwink people into avoiding recognition of inequalities. For instance, we pray and apparently we are all equal. We open our eyes and gender decides who goes to serve tea. Sexual orientation meanwhile is deciding who even gets to enter.
Systems also like to pit oppressed people against each other and pretend that we can't see nuance.
Women all struggle until it is time to pay domestic workers decently, then crickets.
Kenyans all struggle until it is time to confront ethnic/tribal hierarchies, then crickets.
Women all struggle until it is time to pay domestic workers decently, then crickets.
Kenyans all struggle until it is time to confront ethnic/tribal hierarchies, then crickets.
And back to the original assertion.
"The work of a housewife is financial contribution to a household."
The fact that human beings need financial/money "value" to "work" to consider each other "worthy" is itself the original sin.
We see who it leaves behind, erases, devalues.
"The work of a housewife is financial contribution to a household."
The fact that human beings need financial/money "value" to "work" to consider each other "worthy" is itself the original sin.
We see who it leaves behind, erases, devalues.
Our decisions around allocating all kinds of value, as human beings, are already immeasurably, irredeemably flawed. Many have written at length about this.
But be certain sure: if you work to devalue another, that same system will work against you.
Move accordingly.
/Zagadat
But be certain sure: if you work to devalue another, that same system will work against you.
Move accordingly.
/Zagadat
PS There are many things Excel sheet logic is limited in measuring.
Like love, care or kindness.
But at the same time, it is easy to see that the bulk of demands to love, to care, to forgive, to make room, fall on the oppressed and marginalised.
NOT on those with power/strength
Like love, care or kindness.
But at the same time, it is easy to see that the bulk of demands to love, to care, to forgive, to make room, fall on the oppressed and marginalised.
NOT on those with power/strength
We observe how cheaply systems of dominance treat the love and forgiveness they demand.
Societies expect grace from Meghan Markle as racist British media dehumanise her
expect forgiveness from black families violated by mass shooters
expect love for abusive violent husbands
Societies expect grace from Meghan Markle as racist British media dehumanise her
expect forgiveness from black families violated by mass shooters
expect love for abusive violent husbands
The audacity of power demanding love, grace and forgiveness where it has never been planted and where it is not considered valuable.
When people start to say no, then we will really see stars out here.
Okay bye for real
When people start to say no, then we will really see stars out here.
Okay bye for real
