If you love #5SmartReads, would you be open to sharing them? You’ll get perks if you do! Set up your unique share link below and share #5SmartReads with anyone you think would enjoy them! Today is Labor Day in the United States - a day that many of us refer to as the final day of summer (and for my boys, the last day of summer vacation before school starts tomorrow). It is also a day of deep meaning - the holiday was established at the end of the 19th century to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. If I’m being honest, I’m finding it hard to be in a celebratory mood when it comes to labor (and its multiple definitions):  (please click the tweet and read through the entire thread) Labor has been vital for the advancement of this nation. But not all labor is valued equally, and sadly the unpaid labor of women (and predominantly women of color) is something we’ve needed to invest in for generations, and the pandemic has revealed how this labor has been exploited and broken beyond repair. It’s not fair - and never has been fair. I don’t have all the answers but focusing on solutions that properly value this work and to build the protections and dignity that this work deserves is something I am deeply focused on in this chapter of my life. Here’s what has helped me in my own relationship:
On a macroeconomic scale, my friends at Chamber Of Mothers, Mother Honestly, The Riveter, and Careforce are fighting for policy solutions to bring the necessary compensation and dignity to the work that women have done for free for far too long. One of the most important things you can do (if you’re an American citizen) is to vote - in every election, but especially this upcoming midterm election. That this Congress was able to take decisive action on common sense gun reform, traditional infrastructure, climate change and affordable medication, and post-pandemic recovery aid shows that we can do hard things - and we can do more with members of Congress and Senators aligned with these values serving in our state and federal legislatures. I AM A VOTER is a fantastic resource to register to vote, check your voter registration, and make your voting plan (bonus - they have great merch, and I wear this shirt every time I visit the polls) I hope your day is filled with some rest and some delicious food and time with your loved ones. I also hope you take some time to think about labor - in all its forms - and how we can better value the role it plays in our society and our lives, and continue to do better. What I Read This Week
What Everyone Else Read This Week Abigail
Top #5SmartReads Of The Week
The rest of the week’s reads + last week’s (and conversations!) are below: Monday August 29, 2022 Your Questions, Answered What are you favorite fall activities?
What should I be reading for me ACOTAR withdrawal? I also LOVED Amanda Bouchet’s Kigmaker Chronicles- if ACOTAR and Circe had a baby, it would be this series and it’s brilliant. Also, you can just re-listen to ACOTAR (the dramatized audiobooks). I’m making my way through them right now and they hit differently but equally excellent. Fav podcasts?
Any cons to getting a new Cover booster ASAP? Last booster Nov. 2021. Any ideas for fun bridal shower/bachelorette games? Good places to donate to help Pakistan right now? How do I fake autumn when I live in a place with no season? Hang up some twinkle lights. Pull out your favorite blanket. Get a new candle (Nag Champa from Scrumptious Wicks is a great one). Read all the spooky/witchy books and journal in a beautiful new notebook. Make all the soup! Fall is a vibe and a state of mind, not just a season! Enjoy! In NYC this Oct! Seeing lots of stories on surge in violent crime in the city. Your take on staying safe? I’ve always taken a cab or rideshare when coming home solo at night (and sharing my ride with my husband) and take the subway and bus during the day, and feel fine with that! Do you have recs for fall books? Looking for cozy/spooky/witchy Random, do you have any tattoos/ever compelled to get one? xo,
You’re a weekly subscriber to #5SmartReads. To get the daily newsletter, enter your email here. © 2022 Hitha Palepu
|
issue #149 - the one on labor
09:07
0
