Blog 7

How does a minimum wage job add to the poor working women’s ability to find and maintain stable and safe childcare and make a better living? In regards to the story of Julia a young mother who turned to the system for help while she tried to better herself for a career that would allow her to provide for her children and yet around each corner there seemed to be another road block in Julia’s way. One of the biggest challenges Julia faced was providing quality childcare for her children when she has to rely on the government checks to pay the childcare provider. Julia’s troubles with the checks included checks not arriving on time, checks showing up short of what they were originally suppose to be or just not showing up at all due to paperwork being misplaced or lost. Julia stated the respect that she had for Sonia (her babysitter) and that Sonia herself was just trying to work and provide for her family also. Sonia did her best to work with Julia in regards to shit changes and mistakes with the checks but it all comes down being able to provide for your family and Sonia’s finances were being affected due to the mix up with Julia’s checks. It’s a shame that Julia was approved for a certain amount of money and yet due to clerical error she was forced at times to use family members like her cousin who seemed more bothered than anything at having to watch Julia’s children. She watched as her children were removed from an atmosphere that they enjoyed, felt comfortable and safe to an environment were they were bored with nothing to do and no one to play with except for Julia’s mother who was ill most of the time and really not a suitable caregiver for the children at her age. Julia was a woman who sought out an education a way to better self and received PA to help assist in her schooling cost, yet Julia had to choose between a part-time job to help make ends meet and school because if she tried to do both the would stop her PA. Julia was out there taking low paying or no paying internships to try and get her foot in the door she wanted a job and she wanted to provide a good life for her children. Julia’s problem like most was that she needed some assistance while she was working and going to school and yet according to the state the little amount of money she did make was going to be too much and would cause her to loose her benefits. It seems like the assistance and help that one receives from the state can at sometimes act as an anchor tied to their feet. No matter how hard they try to get out and better themselves something is always pulling them back. After watching the videos hosted by Roseanne Barr it is true no individual can live off of minimum wage. Jessica the mother raising her three boys, in a horrible neighborhood because that is all she can afford. Jessica gave the greatest example of how society holds individuals back. Jessica goes in early and often times stays late, she is an ideal employee yet she gets paid minimum wage with no chance of a raise and yet when she sets out to seek employment elsewhere they offer to pay her what she was making at her last job. How is she to get ahead when society has decided she is a minimum wage employee and no human being should have to raise a family on that.