Holding It Together audiobook cover - How Women Became America's Safety Net

Holding It Together

How Women Became America's Safety Net

Jessica Calarco

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Categories:
Society & CulturePolitics

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Holding It Together
The Core Crisis+
Lack of Safety Net+
The Caregiving Trap+
Myth of Meritocracy+
The Pandemic Proof+
Unions of Care+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
According to Jessica Calarco, why do women disproportionately bear the burden of balancing work and family in the United States?
  • A. Because they are biologically predisposed to caregiving, making them more efficient at multitasking.
  • B. Because the lack of a societal safety net forces them to become the 'invisible glue' of the economy.
  • C. Because the gender wage gap naturally pushes men into the workforce and women into the home.
  • D. Because they are overwhelmingly encouraged to pursue degrees in care-oriented fields like nursing.
Question 2 of 6
How does American society typically respond when women in caregiving roles inevitably begin to struggle financially or personally?
  • A. It places the blame squarely on the individual's personal choices, such as not getting married or going to college.
  • B. It attributes their struggles to the systemic failures of abstinence-only education and limited healthcare access.
  • C. It advocates for immediate federal intervention to subsidize their caregiving efforts.
  • D. It encourages them to join labor unions to fight for better wages and working conditions.
Question 3 of 6
How do historical philosophies like the New Thought Movement and modern books like 'The Secret' negatively impact struggling low-income families?
  • A. They encourage families to rely too heavily on government assistance rather than personal effort.
  • B. They promote a culture of extreme consumerism that drives vulnerable families further into credit card debt.
  • C. They reinforce the harmful idea that individuals have ultimate control over their circumstances, leading to harsh judgment of the poor.
  • D. They convince women that they must choose between pursuing a successful career and raising a family.
Question 4 of 6
What lesson did the COVID-19 pandemic provide regarding the social safety net in the United States?
  • A. It proved that government intervention is highly inefficient and actually reduces long-term family resilience.
  • B. It demonstrated that permanent universal basic income is widely supported by both major political parties.
  • C. It revealed that private charities are much better equipped to handle national crises than federal programs.
  • D. It showed that temporary government support, like child tax credits, significantly extended families' financial resilience before being rolled back.
Question 5 of 6
Why is Iceland mentioned as a contrast to the United States in the book?
  • A. Because it successfully implemented the New Thought Movement's philosophies into its national economic strategy.
  • B. To highlight how collective action and protests by women in 1975 led to policy changes that made it the best country for women.
  • C. Because it is the only country that has completely eliminated the gender wage gap without any government intervention.
  • D. To show that even countries with robust social safety nets still experience the exact same levels of maternal debt as the US.
Question 6 of 6
What does Jessica Calarco propose as a primary solution to the systemic issues facing caregivers?
  • A. The creation of 'unions of care' that connect paid and unpaid care workers to push for systemic change.
  • B. A renewed societal focus on self-help philosophies to empower women to negotiate better salaries.
  • C. Federal legislation that mandates all women must complete a college degree before having children.
  • D. The privatization of the childcare industry to increase market competition and lower costs for families.

Holding It Together — Full Chapter Overview

Holding It Together Summary & Overview

Holding It Together (2024) explores the hardships facing women all over the US. In the absence of any social safety net, women endure immense pressure in their multiple roles as caregivers and low-paid workers to sustain life for themselves and their families with little to no help.

Who Should Listen to Holding It Together?

  • Feminists
  • People interested in social inequality in the US
  • Policy makers interested in ethics

About the Author: Jessica Calarco

Jessica Calarco is a sociologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin. Her other books include Negotiating Opportunities. She is a contributor to the New York Times and The Atlantic.

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