Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
March 18: Jessica Calarco – Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net
--Submitted by Kirsten Houghton
At the March 18, 2026 Madison Downtown Rotary luncheon, author and sociologist Jessica Calarco examined inequalities in family life and education. Drawing on extensive research, she argued that unlike countries with strong social safety nets, the U.S. relies on women to fill systemic gaps in caregiving. This “do-it-yourself” model creates low-paying care work, reinforces economic instability, and disproportionately impacts women—especially women of color. Even higher-earning women face setbacks, often sacrificing careers due to childcare and family needs. Calarco called for meaningful institutional change, warning that without it, many Americans will continue to bear the burdens of an inequitable system.
Guest speaker starts at 21:21 minutes.
March 18: Jessica Calarco – Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net
--Submitted by Kirsten Houghton
At the March 18, 2026 Madison Downtown Rotary luncheon, author and sociologist Jessica Calarco examined inequalities in family life and education. Drawing on extensive research, she argued that unlike countries with strong social safety nets, the U.S. relies on women to fill systemic gaps in caregiving. This “do-it-yourself” model creates low-paying care work, reinforces economic instability, and disproportionately impacts women—especially women of color. Even higher-earning women face setbacks, often sacrificing careers due to childcare and family needs. Calarco called for meaningful institutional change, warning that without it, many Americans will continue to bear the burdens of an inequitable system.
Guest speaker starts at 21:21 minutes.
