Lifting the Floor: Sex, Class, and Education

University of Baltimore Law Forum, 2009

23 Pages Posted: 23 Sep 2008

See all articles by Naomi Cahn

Naomi Cahn

University of Virginia School of Law

June Carbone

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - School of Law

Date Written: September, 22 2008

Abstract

This paper was written for a conference on third wave feminism. Third wave feminism recognizes the importance of "raising the floor," and this paper - from two second wave feminists - helps in developing an agenda for achieving that goal. After a brief exploration of two different models that we label "red families" and "blue families," this paper makes two critical points: first, it correlates the different models to the varying approaches to parental leave laws; and second, it expands our discussion of women and care beyond the workplace and child care, exploring what contributes to women's ability to care for their children (and others) - education - an outcome that is associated with deferred childbearing and higher income and the newer family model. Our conversation about third wave feminism must examine women's means of moving between classes and being able to provide better care to themselves and to others (whether it be children or parents or significant others).

Keywords: family law, work and family, parental leave, feminism, childcare, employment discrimination, education

JEL Classification: J12, J13, J14, J16, J17, J18, K10, K30

Suggested Citation

Cahn, Naomi R. and Carbone, June, Lifting the Floor: Sex, Class, and Education (September, 22 2008). University of Baltimore Law Forum, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1271963

Naomi R. Cahn

University of Virginia School of Law ( email )

580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

June Carbone (Contact Author)

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - School of Law ( email )

229-19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

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