HOMEMAKER'S BILL OF RIGHTS: ECONOMIC RECOGNITION FOR HOMEMAKERS

1978

WHEREAS, society has not recognized the economic value of the goods and services provided by the homemaker to her/his family and the community; and

WHEREAS, the lack of value has resulted not only in the evaluation of homemakers as "non-working" women, but has also deprived the homemaker of job related benefits that paid workers take for granted; and

WHEREAS, the lack of recognition of the economic value of homemaking has had an adverse impact on women in paid employment, especially in those occupations seen as extension of a homemaker's duties, such as nursing, education, restaurant service, domestic service and office work; and

WHEREAS, the homemakers' rights committee has been charged with the duty of proposing a bill of rights for homemakers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Organization for Women endorses the proposal of economic recognition for homemakers, as follows:

In recognition of the fact that it is not the homemaker who benefits most from her/his unpaid labor, but it is the community and family and through them all of society, homemakers should be granted the recognition and rights of paid, skilled workers:

• through independent social security coverage in her/his own name, portable into and out of marriage and continuing as the homemaker leaves and reenters the paid workforce, containing provision for disability and retirement benefits adequate to maintain a decent standard of living;
• through inclusion of the value of goods and services produced and provided by homemakers in the gross national product;
• through revision of welfare laws so that a low-income homemaker can remain at home with her/his family, rather than be forced to take a second, paying job;
• through development of flexible-time and part-time employment, and the development of adequate flexible-time and part-time child care facilities to make these jobs more available to parents of young children;
• through civil and criminal protection from spousal rape and domestic abuse;
• through providing the homemaker with a safe workplace and adequate housing regardless of income;
• through comprehensive review of current domestic relations laws to challenge and change those laws, statutes, procedures and codes that deprive homemakers of dignity, security and recognition;
• through recognition of the right to retire or change jobs.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Organization for Women adopts the proposals of economic rights within marriage, economic rights for homemakers in transition, and economic recognition for homemakers as a comprehensive statement of a bill of rights for homemakers.