Holding It Together

Calarco brings together both heartbreaking anecdotes and reliable data to underscore how the uncompensated labor of women has become the de facto safety net in this country. She briefly traces the history of how businessmen fought to prevent the United States from having robust social protections. But for me the most damning part of the book are the interviews with husbands, who almost carelessly take their wives' labor for granted, all the while feigning admiration. Men, if you have ever said "I don't know how she does it," Calarco's riposte ("you could ask") should give you pause.