[PEN-L:10979] Re: Marx & Consumerism

[MScoleman@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 97-06-21 09:20:33 EDT, you write:
>Am I stuck in "Volume I" or did that old "naughty man" (as my 3-year old
>daughter Sarah tells me as she looks at the Dancing Marx's on my URPE
>t-shirt) say something about the real wage being "socially and historically"
>determined?

I think Jason makes a very good point--thank you, it helped me gel my
objection to Schor's presentation (though I repeat that I do find her work
valuable).  She is aiming criticism at the individual for accepting and
abiding by social values when she places blame on the individual for buying
cars and building bigger and bigger houses.  That said, I do think that in
some areas, social values are changing.  SOME Younger men in the phone co. do
seem to be opting for time at home rather than premium time.  About a year
ago one man with low seniority turned down at 13 week 4pm-midnight tour to
spend more time with his four children because his wife couldn't provide all
the chauffering to extra curricular activities.  This sparked major
debate--primarily coming from more senior men who's children were in high
school.  The out of hour tours come with a hefty $$ differential and less
hours, so none of the older guys could figure out why the more junior man had
turned down the tour.  The debate devolved to the older guys telling the
younger guy that raising kids was his wife's job, while a couple of younger
men loudly disagreed, maintaining their importance in the child rearing
process.  I SWEAR I said nothing.

This is not statistical 'proof' but I do think there is a clear difference in
the attitude of men over and under 40 to rearing children.
maggie coleman mscoleman@xxxxxxx