Slight Case of Insanity

No, I will not pop out a baby to receive financial (and other) benefits. I choose to work for them instead. But apparently society gives no benefits at all for the childless.

Saw this today. Made me so angry. Problem: Men are, on average, paid more than women in the workforce. Solution: Let’s pay women maternity pay to even out the incomes.

I’m sorry, does anyone else see a problem here? So, in order for us to be on even income footing with men we must have children. How about those of us who would rather work, without the children, and actually have our hard work and efforts in the workplace recognised rather than be paid simply to be a baby machine? As an ‘I-have-no-desire-to-be-a-mother’ individual, I feel extremely prejudiced against by this recent proposal for paid maternity leave to even out the difference in incomes between men and women. If you cannot afford to have a child and survive on what income you can produces yourselves, then don’t have a child. Why should you be paid to do nothing at home, just because you had a child?

This particular…..favouritism, I suppose is the word…..towards mothers in society is a constant source of irritation for me. I’ll be honest, I don’t want kids. I’m not saying never, just definitely not in the near future. I am quite content as I am, being the centre of my own universe. And this is my own personal decision to make, isn‘t it? Yet, I seem to be constantly punished or disadvantaged because of that.

• Parking spaces: Great you have a kid. You get to park closer at shopping centres et cetera than disabled people? Get a pram…
• Government assistance: Great so you had a kid, you can now received not only a few thousand $$ for having it, but regular assistance to help with expenses (including housing, food, general bills, health)
• Paid maternity leave: So instead of actually having to work for money like the rest of us, you simply have a kid, stay home, and STILL get paid! Wow, nice work.

And, does anyone else see a problem with parent receiving so many benefits? That, perhaps, couples who would not otherwise be able to afford to have a child are now having one, at the cost of our taxpayer dollars? If you cannot afford to have a child on your available income and raise it comfortably, then perhaps you should not be breeding!

Why should I be penalised because I chose not to have children? I (apparently foolishly) thought society had moved on from the ‘men do the work, women make the babies’ ideologies. But it certainly seems that for those of us who decide to live our own lives, that there are no benefits or special privileges for us.