The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink

I found this to be extremely well-written and documented. For those who like statistics, there were lots of statistical charts to be interpreted. For those who are not mathematically-oriented, there are essays written by a wide range of people to get the point across. Some reviewers complained about information being repeated. That is a valid complaint; however, repetition enhances the retention of information and this information is important to think about and retain. I would not recommend buying this book in a Kindle format, because the charts and graphs cannot be read in that format.I saw only one item which was a bit inaccurate. Ms. Shriver discussed the fact that many students were taking out loans so large that they could not pay them back. Because I worked in the financial aid profession, I know that loans do not have to be paid back in full. If a student opts for the Income Based Repayment Plan, for example, he or she can make on-time payments for twenty years that are based on income, and that loan is considered to be paid off at the end of twenty years. The taxpayers are the ones who are paying the balances of these loans. (The author may have chosen not to advertise this fact. A student loan bubble exists. When it pops, the last recession is going to appear to be a birthday party.)The suggestions given for bringing low-income women back from the brink are all excellent, provided that our economy was in ideal shape and could afford to implement them. I definitely support employees being able to earn sick leave and vacation time. Scheduling flexible work time is also important.A couple of other suggestions will require "buy in" and support from the middle class and if a follow-up report is done, a lot of attention needs to be focused on how you plan to get that "buy in" from them. One problem is the Affordable Care Act. While it has been good for the lower income people, it has not been so good for the middle class. Many of them had insurance before and can no longer afford to purchase health insurance. Many had to change doctors. Many employees of state governments discovered that they would be dumped from their state policies once they reached age 65. These are the same state employees who were promised that they would have the same state insurance that they had while working for that state when they retired. Nothing was written in the ACA to protect the middle class. It could have been; therefore, it is going to be difficult to get "buy in" from them. Another "buy in" problem concerns government paid child care. The mothers of many middle-class baby boomers worked. Their families got no government support for the people who took care of them while the mothers worked. Some of those boomers saved money, because they were reared by parents who experienced the Great Depression. Interest from those savings is now less than 2%; during the Clinton years, one could earn 7.25%. Those savings, as well as any small dividends are taxed. Then, middle class families find out that low-income people are getting as much as $14,000 back in taxes for child care that they never paid in taxes.It is difficult to get "buy-in" and support for ideas from those who made good decisions to support many who have made poor decisions. I am hearing a lot of complaints from people who went into public service who felt a calling from President Kennedy, Sargent Shriver, and/or Senator Robert Kennedy. These people wanted to help the poor and to be good public servants. Many are now having to draw social security early, because they are slowly becoming lower class--despite having been good managers for more than thirty years.

I have found that as a women, being treated less than has been a confusing journey. One fights to urge to plan one's self as a women for not being able to live up to the super-women title. For getting and being too tired and not getting help hat you need from anywhere. The feeling that family is more important then throwing you hands up to give up and let God because no one else will.This report helped me to understand. I understand why my pay just didn't seem to ever be enough. Why being smart was not an asset, why people, even other women judged me when I was just trying to do the best I could be my kids. Risking poverty for their well being. I hope others read it to gain a better awareness of who you are. You can find yourself no matter who you are and for men, maybe numbers, conversation, and eye opening facts will help you gain perspective.

This is a comprehensive "must read" document for any American voter and politician who thinks they are adequately informed about women's issues, poverty, single mothers, and children in single parent families. The collected essays and commentaries uncovers accepted myths and untruths about these issues and conditions, and explains why many government and social policies have failed to change the status quo. Meaningful suggestions and practical recommendations are offered in the Report.I thought that some of the content was repetitive and the report was quite lengthy.The section addressing the legal services for women and children was much to brief and lacking in substance.The Report should be a required reading for all elected officials!

The Shriver Report is far more than a social report on the economic quality of life available to the millions of women and children who live in poverty. It is as much a spiritual call to churches and congregations everywhere to preach the full humanity and gifts of women as well as their maternity.Women who live in violence or are paid less than men for the same work need justice as well as a kind of pseudo-equality. They need spiritual affirmation of their essential worth as well as jobs. They need recognition of the gifts, the needs, the valor of women as human beings as well as spiritual patronizing of their role as mothers.That's the kind of foundation this great work requires all of us to see-- I could not applaud it more.

After seeing Maria Shriver on tv talking about women in poverty. I know women are stuck in poverty...how to get out is the BIG problem that no one seems to have the answer to. When a woman and man graduate from the same school with the same degree making the same grades, WHY does the woman make 7% less money than the man? The difference in incomes hurts both mena nd women. Many men work two jobs to compensate for the smaller job pay their wives make. Women are working two and three jobs to put food on the table. I work in health care; why do men working the same job I do with same (or less) years experience make more per hour than I do? Why are men moving up the ladder faster than women ? Some women have worked for generations i.e. housekeepers, babysitters, waitresses, etc and they cannot increase their wages. Why do women in professionsl jobs help or not help women in nonprofessional jobs? Who pays the babysitter what the babysitter deserves? These are questions addressed in this book but I am not sure there are ever any answers. I doubt I recommend this book to anyone. I read this on my Kindle from AMAZON.

Thought-provoking,authoritative, accessible this report considers the place of women in the US workforce, especially those living on the brink of poverty - "one repair bill away from crisis".Much of what it says is relevant to the UK (and, I would guess, many other countries). It examines how women make an increasing contribution to the workforce and economic prosperity of the country but struggle with low paid jobs and minimum or no employment rights such as sick leave or holiday pay. The inequalities between male and female pay and conditions, the fact that most single parent households are headed by women, and the caring roles for elderly relatives and children are placing an unfair burden on millions of women. A plethora of internationally respected contributors examine this and propose solutions to achieve a fairer society. Essential reading.

I'm not a US resident so perhaps this wasn't targeted at myself but I have been long interested in the wealth divides across the globe and rather than this being a "feminist" project, it is insightful into the daily routines of women from all walks of life. There is the odd argument which I didn't agree with however on the whole I think this deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

An excellent report on poverty and female empowerment. A must read for everyone, regardless of where you live, it's eye- opening for all.

This report has lots of great information but because I was only reading it out of interest it would have been easier to digest in a summary format.

Exactly what I required