Why We Need A “GI Bill for Homemakers” (with Ivana Greco)
With Katharine B. Stevens | Ivana Greco
Center on Child and Family Policy
June 6, 2024
Ivana Greco joined the podcast to discuss her proposal for a "GI Bill for Homemakers," targeting mothers and fathers who dedicate themselves to the crucial work of home and community. She compares the career trajectories of Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and William Rehnquist to illuminate obstacles faced by homemakers who are re-entering the paid workforce, arguing that we should treat those who spend time on the “home front” with the kind of support and respect we treat those who serve in the military.
Greco suggests two main policy areas: providing educational opportunities for parents re-entering the workforce and incentivizing employers to hire those who have been out of the workforce caring for children. Finally, she emphasizes that, in addition to the important work of raising children and caring for the home, homemakers also play a vital role in nurturing community bonds and fostering social interaction. She notes that the mass entry of women into the workforce led to less vibrant communities, underscoring the limitations of a GDP-centric view of societal success.
About the Guest
After graduating cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2011, Ivana Greco spent a decade working as a successful attorney, specializing in qualified retirement-plan advising and healthcare litigation. A couple of years ago, she left her paid employment to work as a full-time mother of her three children, caring for a toddler and homeschooling her two young sons. She is also a writer, publishing regularly on family policy and other issues that impact stay-at-home parents, and serves on the Center on Child and Family Policy’s advisory council.
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FAMILIES & PARENTING EARLY DEVELOPMENT CHILDCARE
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