I, like most fairly economically privileged people in the United States, have heard a lot about the current momentum around raising the minimum wage. But also like many others, I have been woefully under informed about it all. I knew that our federal minimum wage is incredibly low and not a living wage, but I'm not sure I knew just how bad it is.
As the first piece of required reading, might I suggest RaisetheMinimumWage.com. These info graphics also hit at exactly why this is a feminist issue:
Just a cursory glance at these stats show that a minimum wage worker is much more likely to be a 35 year old, full time working mother, than a teen. (I assume there are intersections with other oppressions too.) Another dangerous myth is that if we raise the minimum wage, we'll all be paying so much more at McDonald's and that's just horrible for the economy. So might I suggest this video to debunk that myth. The White House agrees.
It boggles my mind that we have created a market where it is totally accepted that a person's labor at some full time jobs won't pay enough to afford rent. This is an unethical system.
Something has GOT to give.
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