Is America Facing a Women’s Employment Crisis?

<p>Right now, America has a record number of jobs available.&nbsp;</p><br><p>"Help Wanted" signs are everywhere. Yet, the labor-participation rate <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/07/14/jerome-powell-covid-economy/2571626227501/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">remains low</a>, and women in particular are slow to return to the workforce.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Since February 2020, more than 1.6 million women have gone “missing” from the economy, and some are questioning the need to ever go back. Vice President Kamala Harris has called the situation a “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kamala-harris-women-workforce-pandemic/2021/02/12/b8cd1cb6-6d6f-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">national emergency</a>.” And, <a href="https://fortune.com/2021/07/07/gina-raimondo-commerce-childcare-women-unemployment-infrastructure-american-families-plan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo</a> and many economists, it’s a “problem” that needs to be fixed.</p><br><p>But with so many jobs available to take, is the decrease in the female labor-participation rate really <em>problematic</em>—or, is it the reflection of a choice? We discuss it on this week’s three-year anniversary of “Problematic Women,” and also hear the profound personal testimony of Laura Perry, a woman who struggled with her gender identity, underwent gender-transition surgery, and after all that, realized that she still didn’t feel whole.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Enjoy the show!</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>