What is being described here is the result of the ascendancy of âEconomic man;â the determination of a humanâs value solely based on their income and wealth. It leads to overvaluing the rich and undervaluing the poor as humans and is part of the foundation of growing economic inequality in the US and world; the rich deserve what they get and the poor donât deserve help.
When money becomes the only measuring stick, âinvisibleâ work becomes devalued as do behaviors which not only cannot be easily measured by dollars but those which donât give one a competitive edge. As such, hardness, rationality, strength, and slyness are valued (though cheating and exploitation can be also; qualities Hobbs pointed out would lead to a nasty, brutish, short life) over cooperation, concern for others, softness; society favors qualities we associate as masculine over those considered feminine and reward accordingly. Society has devalued âwomenâs workâ and any jobs in which women dominate, in part because they reflect qualities we associate with women, pay is lower; often because we say, âthatâs part of their nature.â This devaluation has led to modern feminismâs push for total equality and even the devaluation of men; âwe donât need you, we can do it ourselves.â It has led to the push for ending traditional gender roles and independent women behaving like men in order to compete in the of âeconomic man.â Thus, both modern sexes become hard, power and money driven, and the aspects of society women used to take care of get neglected and the happiness and satisfaction with life suffers for all; which we try to patch over with consumerism.
What that also means is that women who donât pursue the goals of modern feminism or at least support it vocally are considered weak, less-than, or brainwashed. âNo intelligent woman would choose to go back to traditional gender roles and subjugation.â The issue is not simply feminism and equality but the worship of the golden calf, idolization of money and power which has given modern feminism its foundation. If we valued women and womenâs work appropriately (and more generally the work of creating and raising healthy, well adjusted human beings), then home life would happier and healthier; pay would be equal for equal work; and maybe salaries would be adjusted so that entire families can once again be supported by a single income. Life would be a partnership between a man and his wife and while he would be the senior partner, both would support and engage each other to the fullest.
In order to understand some of the hidden value of womenâs work research has been conducted to try and put a price tag on the economic contribution a housewife gives. One study put the price at nearly 160,000 pounds (UK) annually or roughly $190,000 in unpaid labor each year by a stay-at-home-mom and wife.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/11164040/How-much-is-a-housewife-worth.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brycecovert/2012/05/30/putting-a-price-tag-on-unpaid-housework/#2552c7ad35c6
https://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/2012/05%20May/0512_household.pdf
Just because we donât see it or value it doesnât mean it has little or no value. However, or societal valuation prevents young women from seriously considering it as the right option for them or feel guilty about it when they feel pulled in that direction; when accepting their natural instincts as the correct path for them. Society unjustly shames these girls and women because they arenât seeking their full potential as âeconomic menâ when what we need are more women to soften and support their âeconomic men.â Men and women are complimentary, each bringing strengths and weaknesses which function best when combined. To devalue (and then shame) one set of qualities weakens both because these qualities are necessary and their lack weakens us all.
Benevolent and understanding patriarchy is correct (with all its responsibilities), misogyny is not. Each person needs to determine for themselves, but women need to be valued, appreciated, and celebrated for their uniqueness not changed into men. Different and unequal should never mean unloved or unvalued.
