Category Archives: Families structures, divorce, etc

What is the cost? White Baby $35,000, Latin@ Baby $10,000 and Black Baby $4,000

Should supply and demand determine the cost of adoption? Tariq sent me this article about a campaign by Rev. Ken Hutcherson in Washington state. Hutcherson is taking on the adoption industry. Here’s a quote: When a couple seeking to adopt … Continue reading

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, Families structures, divorce, etc, Race, racism and related issues, Whatever | 37 Comments

Divorce Rates From 1860 To The Present

I think this graph, from an upcoming paper in The Journal of Economic Perspectives ((“Marriage and Divorce: Changes and their Driving Forces,” by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 2007. Pdf link to paper.)), is … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc | 15 Comments

We shouldn't have to choose

Alas readers who saw Whale Rider might remember Keisha Castle Hughes, she was the young Maori actress who was nominated for a best Actress Oscar for her role as Paikea. It has just been announced that she is pregnant at … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Families structures, divorce, etc, Feminism, sexism, etc, Race, racism and related issues | 144 Comments

In Defense Of No-Fault Divorce

In this past Sunday’s New York Times, Robin Wilson writes: What accounts for the new resistance to no-fault? Reasons include the growing evidence that divorce often hurts children, feminists’ renewed recognition of the importance of legal protection for mothers raising … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc | 44 Comments

Has Divorce Reached Its Natural Rate?

Amanda at Pandagon linked to my critique of the methodology used by anti-divorce researcher Elizabeth Marquardt. In comments, Pandagon reader “Bitter Scribe” wrote (emphasis added by me): …The divorce rate was kept down through the mid-20th century by virtue of … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc | 26 Comments

Protecting children from their depressed, working-class parents

In the post about the dangers of baby blogging, I alluded to a child protection conference that had thrown up several essay-worthy subjects, then lapsed back into silence. Now, over a month later, I’m finally organised enough to tackle some … Continue reading

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Families structures, divorce, etc | 21 Comments

Racist Parents Kidnap Daughter and Try to Force Abortion

A few days ago I read a story from Rueters about a couple from Maine, who kidnapped their 19 year old daughter. They forced her into a car, and tried taking her to New York so they could force her … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Families structures, divorce, etc, Race, racism and related issues | 38 Comments

Transracial Adoption, Interracial Families, and Social Change

In my last post on transracial adoption (TRA), I discussed how popular media outlets cover transracial adoption. I argued that the current framing sets up several false dichotomies that further racism and white supremacy. In the process, I ruffled a … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, Race, racism and related issues | 7 Comments

Working from home: the worst of both worlds?

Every so often, friends or family members tell me about opportunities for freelance work. Some of the suggestions – the ones that could help me build a writing career – would appeal even if I was childless and working full-time. … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, Gender and the Economy | 14 Comments

Poor Methodology In Anti-Divorce Study

Last year, on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” show ((“Anderson Cooper 360,” November 22 2005.)), Elizabeth Marquardt, author of Between Two Worlds – which is being re-released in a trade paperback edition this month – had this exchange with Cooper: Anderson … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc | 62 Comments