Giving birth can take a huge toll on some women, not to mention the care that then ensues. I raised five children and worked outside the home. These children have paid a lot of taxes in this country, and still are. My husband became totally disabled in his early forties, and, again, I was the caregiver. Eventually, I had to take early SS. I was ill, but did not have healthcare, so, just struggled on. I had life threatening heart attack, two strokes and other debilitating illnesses; but, carried on. Don't even ask how those bills got paid.
The day I became medicare covered was one of the happiest days of my life. Yes, it should have come earlier. Why can't they cover a man or woman early if they are caring for a disabled person and have life threatening health conditions as well? I was "white collar", if you can call slaving away at a typewriter forever "white collar". We didn't have corrective, supportive chairs back then, and my back still hurts, as well as other parts of my body. I then got home and had dinner to cook, homework to help with, laundry to do, dogs to let out and, finally, in bed, sometimes with work brought from the office, at around 12 o'clock and sometimes 1 o'clock, I would drift off to sleep, only to rise at 5 o'clock to begin again. Most of that time, until he became disabled, my husband was traveling three states doing his job, until disaster struck. Some easy life I had! It is not only men who toil mightily; and, at least they get to come home to their wife cooking supper, clean laundry and a sorta clean house, and the added benefit of thousands of dollars added to the coffer. I was good at what I did, but the 24-7 work I had to do is so under appreciated in this country that it is disgusting. Just saying. I am 70 and a widow, and still have not really retired. Oh well.
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