Magenheim, Ellen B.

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Swarthmore College Works Economics Faculty Works Economics Summer 2001 Double Jeopardy: Review Of "The Widening Gap: Why America's Working Families Are In Jeopardy And What Can Be Done About It" By J. Heymann Ellen B. Magenheim Swarthmore College, emagenh1@swarthmore.edu This work is brought to you for free and open access by . It has been accepted for inclusion in Economics Faculty Works by an authorized administrator of Works. For more information, please contact myworks@swarthmore.edu. Follow this and additional works at: https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-economics  Part of the Economics Commons Let us know how access to these works benefits you  Recommended Citation Ellen B. Magenheim. (2001). "Double Jeopardy: Review Of "The Widening Gap: Why America's Working Families Are In Jeopardy And What Can Be Done About It" By J. Heymann". Forum For Applied Research And Public Policy. Volume 16, Issue 2. 112-113. https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-economics/22 Forum for applied research and public policy / Tennessee ValleyAuthority.Knoxville, Tenn. : Tennessee Valley Authority, 1986-[2002]http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015079705540Public Domain, Google-digitizedhttp://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-googleWe have determined this work to be in the public domain,meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users arefree to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part orin whole. It is possible that current copyright holders,heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portionsof the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assertcopyrights over these portions. Depending on the natureof subsequent use that is made, additional rights mayneed to be obtained independently of anything we canaddress. The digital images and OCR of this work wereproduced by Google, Inc. (indicated by a watermarkon each page in the PageTurner). Google requests thatthe images and OCR not be re-hosted, redistributedor used commercially. The images are provided foreducational, scholarly, non-commercial purposes.BOOKSDouble JeopardyBY ELLEN MAQENHEIMOverthe last 50 years,many changes haveoccurred at theintersection of familyand work life. Foremost amongthese interrelated changes are theincreased participation ofwomen — including mothers ofvery young children — in thelabor force, the rise in thenumber of single parent families,and the increase in dual-workerfamilies. These arrangementsbring with them a range ofchanging needs.In previous generations,mothers at home took care ofchildren when they were veryyoung or when they stayed homefrom school because of illness orschool vacations. In previousgenerations, women at home alsotook care of frail or ill elderlyrelatives. Women were able toprovide these caring servicesbecause they were not simultaneously meeting the demands ofthe formal labor market. Fathers,who might have helped childrenwith homework, are now oftenunable to do so because of therise in nontraditional work hoursas well as constantly changingwork schedules. Parents workinglong hours and odd shifts notonly have limited time to interact with their children, they alsoface the problem offinding reliable childcare for young children.In many households, these changes infamily structure andwork arrangementshave created challengesfor parents to simultaneously and successfully meettheir obligations to families andemployers because these newdirections have not beenmatched by adjustments in theinstitutions — including schools,the workplace, and the government—which might providesupport for the changing needsof working family members.This mismatch, and the myriadproblems that arise as a result,are the focus of Jody Heymann'sbook The Widening Gap: WhyAmerica's Working Families are inJeopardy and What Can Be Doneabout It, a disturbing examination of the problems faced byworking families in Americatoday.At first glance, it may seemthe problem is a matter ofmoney; that is, if parents hadmore money, they could purchase quality child care or find anurse to care for elderly parents.More money would help, but asWorkingFamilies Arcin Ja«pardy—andWhatOil B« Donelit ItTheWideningGapHeymann persuasivelyshows, it would notsolve all the problemsfamilies face, which areas much a matter oftime as money. Forexample, parents cannotget off from work tomeet with a teacher, orthey are at work ratherthan at home in the evening andcan't help a child with homework.In examining the shortages oftime and money that familiesface, Heymann takes a broadview of how these needs changeduring a lifetime and how theyvary across different types offamilies, such as those withspecial-needs children and thoseof different social and economicclasses. Though some familiesexperienced many of theseproblems in the past, what isnew is the extent to which thesestresses have become commonplace.Heymann, who is a professorat Harvard University anddirector of policy for the HarvardUniversity Center for Society andHealth, builds her arguments ona vast and rich array of data,some of which were collectedspecifically for this study.Statistical evidence on the112 ■ FORUM for Applied Researchand Public Policyrelationship between workobligations and family needscomes from the National Surveyof Daily Experiences (DailyDiaries Study). The NationalLongitudinal Survey of Youthprovides information on workschedules and benefits. Data onworking conditions, work autonomy, and work-family interactions come from the Survey ofMidlife in the United States.The author integrates the datafrom these surveys with ethnographic data collected from theUrban Working Families Study,in which more than 200 workingfamilies, child care providers,and employers were interviewed.Additional data came from theBaltimore Parenthood Study andthe National Study of theChanging Workforce. Thebreadth and depth of these datagive this book a vividness oftenlacking in social science analyses.Heymann paints a portrait ofparents who feel they are notable to devote themselves adequately either to work or tofamily. Statistical evidencerevealing a lack of workplaceflexibility is supplemented—andbrought to life—with individualreports of the accommodationsand compromises parents maketo try to keep their jobs whileraising their children, often inways they find unsatisfactory onboth counts.Heymann shows how theproblems have been addressed inthe past, which is mostly not atall. To a large degree familiesand businesses have been left todeal with these problems as bestthey can. Relying on individualinitiative is a very Americanproblem-solving approach; andthe United States, unlike otherindustrialized countries, reliesheavily on the private sector tomeet the needs of workingfamilies. Heymann concludesthat individual families are notdoing a very good job of it.Heymann suggests somesolutions: lowering the age atwhich the government beginseducating children, ensuringflexible work schedules thatallow parents to participate intheir children's education, andoffering all-day and year-roundschooling. Her discussion ofpotential solutions, however,reveals the book's only weakness:Heymann does not adequatelyconsider what the tradeoffs are inpursuing her proposals and whatbarriers to implementationmight be encountered.On the face of it, her proposals indicate attractive newdirections for policymakers andprivate sector leaders. And itseems reasonable to assert that,when parents have more flexibility, more workplace autonomy,better benefits, and thereforemore resources, their childrenwill benefit from their education.But Heymann does not determinewhether there is the private andpublic will to commit to thesechanges and above all to pay forthem. She would have strengthened her argument by givingexamples of initiatives by theprivate and public sectors, separately or jointly, that have helpedworkers simultaneously meet theirneeds at home and at work.The Widening Gap integrates arange of social science approachesand analyses in a way that willbe informative for readers alreadyfamiliar with the literature onfamily and work. It should alsobe accessible and valuable toreaders new to this topic. Whileher conclusions would be enriched by a clearer analysis ofinherent tradeoffs, this workprovides a thorough foundationupon which to conduct thesepolitical and economicarguments.!Jody Heymann, The WideningGap: Why America's WorkingFamilies are in Jeopardy and WhatCan Be Done about It (New York,NY: Basic Books, 2000); 254pp; cloth, $22.40; paper,$15.00.Ellen MagenheimProfessorDepartment of EconomicsSwarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PennsylvaniaSummer 2001 ■ 113

Double Jeopardy: Review Of  The Widening Gap: Why America\u27s Working Families Are In Jeopardy And What Can Be Done About It  By J. Heymann

Swarthmore College 
Works 
Economics Faculty Works Economics 
Summer 2001 
Double Jeopardy: Review Of "The Widening Gap: Why America's 
Working Families Are In Jeopardy And What Can Be Done About 
It" By J. Heymann 
Ellen B. Magenheim 
Swarthmore College, emagenh1@swarthmore.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-economics 
 Part of the Economics Commons 
Let us know how access to these works benefits you 
 
Recommended Citation 
Ellen B. Magenheim. (2001). "Double Jeopardy: Review Of "The Widening Gap: Why America's Working 
Families Are In Jeopardy And What Can Be Done About It" By J. Heymann". Forum For Applied Research 
And Public Policy. Volume 16, Issue 2. 112-113. 
https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-economics/22 
This work is brought to you for free by Swarthmore College Libraries' Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in 
Economics Faculty Works by an authorized administrator of Works. For more information, please contact 
myworks@swarthmore.edu. 
Forum for applied research and public policy / Tennessee Valley
Authority.
Knoxville, Tenn. : Tennessee Valley Authority, 1986-[2002]
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015079705540
Public Domain, Google-digitized
http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google
We have determined this work to be in the public domain,
meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users are
free to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part or
in whole. It is possible that current copyright holders,
heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions
of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert
copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature
of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may
need to be obtained independently of anything we can
address. The digital images and OCR of this work were
produced by Google, Inc. (indicated by a watermark
on each page in the PageTurner). Google requests that
the images and OCR not be re-hosted, redistributed
or used commercially. The images are provided for
educational, scholarly, non-commercial purposes.
BOOKS
Double Jeopardy
BY ELLEN MAQENHEIM
Over
the last 50 years,
many changes have
occurred at the
intersection of family
and work life. Foremost among
these interrelated changes are the
increased participation of
women — including mothers of
very young children — in the
labor force, the rise in the
number of single parent families,
and the increase in dual-worker
families. These arrangements
bring with them a range of
changing needs.
In previous generations,
mothers at home took care of
children when they were very
young or when they stayed home
from school because of illness or
school vacations. In previous
generations, women at home also
took care of frail or ill elderly
relatives. Women were able to
provide these caring services
because they were not simulta
neously meeting the demands of
the formal labor market. Fathers,
who might have helped children
with homework, are now often
unable to do so because of the
rise in nontraditional work hours
as well as constantly changing
work schedules. Parents working
long hours and odd shifts not
only have limited time to inter
act with their children, they also
face the problem of
finding reliable child
care for young chil
dren.
In many house
holds, these changes in
family structure and
work arrangements
have created challenges
for parents to simulta
neously and successfully meet
their obligations to families and
employers because these new
directions have not been
matched b
y
adjustments in the
institutions — including schools,
the workplace, and the govern
ment—which might provide
support for the changing needs
of working family members.
This mismatch, and the myriad
problems that arise as a result,
are the focus of Jody Heymann's
book The Widening Gap: Why
America's Working Families are in
Jeopardy and What Can Be Done
about It, a disturbing examina
tion of the problems faced by
working families in America
today.
At first glance, it may seem
the problem is a matter of
money; that is
,
if parents had
more money, they could pur
chase quality child care or find a
nurse to care for elderly parents.
More money would help, but as
Working
Families Arc
in Ja«pardy—
andWhat
Oil B« Done
lit It
The
Widening
Gap
Heymann persuasively
shows, it would not
solve all the problems
families face, which are
as much a matter of
time as money. For
example, parents cannot
get off from work to
meet with a teacher, or
they are at work rather
than at home in the evening and
can't help a child with home
work.
In examining the shortages of
time and money that families
face, Heymann takes a broad
view of how these needs change
during a lifetime and how they
vary across different types of
families, such as those with
special-needs children and those
of different social and economic
classes. Though some families
experienced many of these
problems in the past, what is
new is the extent to which these
stresses have become common
place.
Heymann, who is a professor
at Harvard University and
director of policy for the Harvard
University Center for Society and
Health, builds her arguments on
a vast and rich array of data,
some of which were collected
specifically for this study.
Statistical evidence on the
112 ■ FORUM for Applied Researchand Public Policy
relationship between work
obligations and family needs
comes from the National Survey
of Daily Experiences (Daily
Diaries Study). The National
Longitudinal Survey of Youth
provides information on work
schedules and benefits. Data on
working conditions, work au
tonomy, and work-family inter
actions come from the Survey of
Midlife in the United States.
The author integrates the data
from these surveys with ethno
graphic data collected from the
Urban Working Families Study,
in which more than 200 working
families, child care providers,
and employers were interviewed.
Additional data came from the
Baltimore Parenthood Study and
the National Study of the
Changing Workforce. The
breadth and depth of these data
give this book a vividness often
lacking in social science analyses.
Heymann paints a portrait of
parents who feel they are not
able to devote themselves ad
equately either to work or to
family. Statistical evidence
revealing a lack of workplace
flexibility is supplemented—and
brought to life—with individual
reports of the accommodations
and compromises parents make
to try to keep their jobs while
raising their children, often in
ways they find unsatisfactory on
both counts.
Heymann shows how the
problems have been addressed in
the past, which is mostly not at
all. To a large degree families
and businesses have been left to
deal with these problems as best
they can. Relying on individual
initiative is a very American
problem-solving approach; and
the United States, unlike other
industrialized countries, relies
heavily on the private sector to
meet the needs of working
families. Heymann concludes
that individual families are not
doing a very good job of it.
Heymann suggests some
solutions: lowering the age at
which the government begins
educating children, ensuring
flexible work schedules that
allow parents to participate in
their children's education, and
offering all-day and year-round
schooling. Her discussion of
potential solutions, however,
reveals the book's only weakness:
Heymann does not adequately
consider what the tradeoffs are in
pursuing her proposals and what
barriers to implementation
might be encountered.
On the face of it
,
her propos
als indicate attractive new
directions for policymakers and
private sector leaders. And it
seems reasonable to assert that,
when parents have more flexibil
ity, more workplace autonomy,
better benefits, and therefore
more resources, their children
will benefit from their education.
But Heymann does not determine
whether there is the private and
public will to commit to these
changes and above all to pay for
them. She would have strength
ened her argument b
y
giving
examples of initiatives by the
private and public sectors, sepa
rately or jointly, that have helped
workers simultaneously meet their
needs at home and at work.
The Widening Gap integrates a
range of social science approaches
and analyses in a way that will
be informative for readers already
familiar with the literature on
family and work. It should also
be accessible and valuable to
readers new to this topic. While
her conclusions would be en
riched by a clearer analysis of
inherent tradeoffs, this work
provides a thorough foundation
upon which to conduct these
political and economic
arguments.!
Jody Heymann, The Widening
Gap: Why America's Working
Families are in Jeopardy and What
Can Be Done about It (New York,
NY: Basic Books, 2000); 254
pp; cloth, $22.40; paper,
$15.00.
Ellen Magenheim
Professor
Department o
f Economics
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Summer 2001 ■ 113


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Double Jeopardy: Review Of The Widening Gap: Why America\u27s Working Families Are In Jeopardy And What Can Be Done About It By J. Heymann

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