We sit in serried rows on battered plastic chairs in a mouldy-smelling room in a partially derelict office block, which took me 40 minutes to reach by public transport (not refundable). We are single parents, all women, whose youngest child is now apparently able to care for itself most of the time. Or be placed in local council-provided childcare, should it exist.Oh, it’s almost Victorian!
The purpose of the seminar is apparently to ease our transition from what is, in effect, being kept alive by the state to provide childcare for our own children to "jobseekers", compulsorily looking for work.‘Kept alive by the state’. That’s a telling phrase…
I didn't choose to be an unemployed single parent. I've never met anyone who did.I’ve never met a pygmy or an Inuit. But I know they exist. They’ve been well-documented, after all…
I continue to attend compulsory harangues of humiliation given by whichever multinational company has been paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to provide the service that particular month. I continue to apply for the tiny number of jobs that come up in the only field in which I am qualified to work, and continue to be rejected.Not enough pride that you used your own name in this, I note. Why not?
Meanwhile, I watch my children unfurl from dark, disturbed despair, and see each advance with enormous gratitude to the society that has allowed it to happen. And when asked "what are you?", I reply with conscious pride "I am a mother".
And perhaps you might consider other jobs than just those you are 'qualified' for?
And perhaps you might consider other jobs than just those you are 'qualified' for?
ReplyDeleteSome of us have done just that... But then I and Mrs L are not Guardianistas.
What Longrider said.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article: "..it is my belief (and devout wish) that this outlay by the state is an investment. It is an investment in the future of two children who will be given the best possible start in life, under the circumstances, to become healthy, responsible, well-balanced and productive members of society. To become contributors, in their turn, to support others who need it become the same."
ReplyDelete...
Yeahhh....see...it's not really mothers like that "society" has a problem with...not really.
...
It's those that breed and rake in the benefits to spend on themselves and whoever they're shagging that week ...whilst the schools, police and social services raise the offspring...and the neighbours have to tolerate all the crap that goes with living next door to them.
...
I'm sure attitudes could be changed if a failure to raise their own offspring meant automatic disqualification from receipt of benefits...children taken into care... leaving them forced to work to "stay alive".
...
It's wrong that many responsible single mothers who have tried and cannot find suitable work are lumped in together with those that couldn't give a toss where the money comes from so long as they don't have to do anything for it and it just keeps coming no matter how they behave in "society".
Did she get paid for the article? hope she declared it! Come on IRS, get on the case.
ReplyDeleteOh dear .. how sad .. never mind ..
ReplyDeleteThe mother will have a Jobseeker's Agreement that specifies that after 13 weeks she will have to broaden her job search outside of her usual occupation. Her personal advisor may suggest some steps to take to improve her employability: free training courses etc. She will be provided with help applying for tax credits and organising childcare.
ReplyDeleteIRS? I think you mean DWP.
For a country that is broke and Cameron sending £650m to Pakistan, well I think I'd say why bother too. Where are all these jobs or more like where are the employers who will take on the left over rejects. Simply not worth the risk. The country is finished and it will all end in a massive uprising soon enough.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of people lazing around on the dole. Unfortunately, there are not enough jobs for them, and many of them aren't even fit for employment. So, leave them to it. What can be done about it?
ReplyDelete>I didn't choose to be an unemployed single parent
ReplyDeleteI chose to clean toilets to put myself through university. I didn't choose to be the sort of person who feeds greasy, puling tapeworms like this woman.
She opened her white, puffy thighs, she took his load despite years of contraception advice, she didn't take care of it when she got into trouble.
I hope that her children run away when they're 14 so that she can bleat about that.
Must bite tongue, still under contract
ReplyDeleteBlimey the assumptions and bigotry here is startling. Or perhaps you know the author really well? Right down to her "white, puffy thighs"...
ReplyDeletePhillipa, as the author is anonymous, it seems reasonable to assume that she is "typical". So commentors are perhaps justified in making assumptions.
ReplyDelete"..the only field in which I am qualified to work", is the magic phrase. She has a qualification of some sort, and considers that she is too good for unskilled labour. That's for those common people.
These "compulsory harangues of humiliation" are just that. Their purpose is to make life on benefits more unpleasant. Shift the balance a bit, and some of them will take the humiliating job rather than the humiliating benefits. It's a bit cruel, but I for one can't afford to keep so many of them, sorry.
"Some of us have done just that... But then I and Mrs L are not Guardianistas."
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
"...it's not really mothers like that "society" has a problem with...not really. "
You mean mothers who are being totally unrealistic about what the state should provide?
I think they are less visible that the other sort, but ultimately, just as harmful, albeit in a different way.
"For a country that is broke and Cameron sending £650m to Pakistan, well I think I'd say why bother too. "
Yup, that's an added danger for those bright enough to make that connection.
"Must bite tongue, still under contract"
:D
"..."..the only field in which I am qualified to work", is the magic phrase. "
Indeed. It's a telling one...
Jesus reading the comments on that article makes your hair stand on end:
ReplyDelete1) Entitlement - she deserves it, I deserve it, but fuck me no one has to work for it
2) Every example of benefit scrounging cited by commenters is dismissed as a "right wing nutter's fantasy" even though all of us know differently
3) The standard socialist obsession with other people's money
Honestly is these fucktards get back in power they really will do their level best to finish this country off for good...
"Honestly is these fucktards get back in power they really will do their level best to finish this country off for good..."
ReplyDeleteIf the coalition does nothing to root out their sympathisers in all areas of national and local government, then yes. Yes, they will...