You’re Taking Care of Others, But Who’s Taking Care of You?!
From Your (Wo)manInWashington blog
MOTHERS changing the conversation @ www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org
Lara Hinz, my friend, colleague and Director of Programs at the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement(WISER) has penned this guest post. She raises a very important point – while we have our hands full taking care of others, our own future well-being is likely falling by the wayside. WISER aims to change that and Lara has some pointers for you.
Caregiving is a common theme in many women’s lives. As young girls and teenagers we may have helped take care of grandma, or perhaps we were babysitters for our younger siblings or other kids in the neighborhood. Many women become mothers, and then eventually, as family members age, the caregiving role for all women often expands to include parents, grandparents and older relatives. And like it or not, it is still typically women who shoulder the load of these caregiving responsibilities.
When it comes to caring for someone, women often put themselves at the bottom of that list. It is hard to juggle it all, but it is important for women to realize that this comes at a cost. Even beyond their experience as caregivers, women’s needs differ greatly from men at most stages of their lives. This is especially true when it comes to finances. Women on average earn less, spend more years out of the labor market, and live longer than men. While many women are involved in their family’s day-to-day finances, far fewer are engaged in the long-term