Breadwinner Moms Peer Response

Peer 1: Yanira

Your question on how gender roles have changed sets the tone for a future consideration of how Breadwinner Moms has influenced gender roles and changes therein. I believe that gender roles have evolved to include more participation from women in terms of family responsibilities. The report shows a steady increase of the income of women (in both categories: single mothers and married women) over five decades. The role of women, especially, has changed due to a growth of their income, more work opportunities, progress in trying to achieve equality, and empowerment. Today, there are many married women making significantly more than their husbands, changing their role from contributors to primary breadwinners. Although institutional sexism still makes it hard for women to fully take up leadership positions in the workplace, their roles in the home settings have shifted to equal those of men in the conventional world. Although some women in the minority ethnic groups are still lagging behind as the role of other women evolve, I would say that as equality is gradually attained, more women will take on the responsibilities of primary providers.

Peer 2: Timmy

The element of race plays a significant role in the conversation about Breadwinner Moms and the challenges that ethnicity introduces. I believe that different races have different experiences and the problems or issues increase for the minority groups such as Hispanic and Black moms, compared to Asians and Whites. Traditionally, white women have earned significantly more than any other racial group. While this may be seen as irrelevant, it is important in showing that empowered women have a higher chance of being primary providers compared to those still dependent on their spouses or family for individual and household responsibilities. The concepts of stratification and institutional racism are of significance in understanding how different categories of Breadwinner Moms experience life. For example, black women are more likely to be single mothers without college education and at a very young age. Such categorization means that the chances of being primary providers is reduced, even where no spouses are available.