Here's Why Bernie Sanders' Revolutionary New Plan Is a Feminist Victory

[one_voice]

On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced a bill that could radically benefit future generations of Americans. The College for All Act would eliminate undergraduate tuition by requiring the federal government to cover 67% of college costs ($47 billion each year) and states to cover the remaining 33% ($23 billion), according to USA Today.

"I want a more educated work force," Sanders said Sunday in a statement Mic reported. "I want everybody to be able to get a higher education regardless of their income." But access to higher education for all, and a resulting competitive workforce, will remain a lofty dream, he noted, "if every year, hundreds of thousands of bright young people cannot afford to go to college, and if millions more leave school deeply in debt.

*snip*

You've come a long way, baby: For centuries, American women were either under the care of their parents or rarely had an individual legal existence as an adult, because their husbands were legally in charge. Under coverture, it was illegal for women to control their own finances, and any wages women earned automatically became their husband's.

The general concepts behind this colonial legal reality remained intact well into the 20th century. It was perfectly legal to pay women less until the Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963 (which, it's worth noting, has not prevented women today from earning less money than men for equal work, on average). As recently as 1988, when the Women's Business Ownership Act was passed, women in some states still legally needed a male relative to co-sign their loan for anything from a business to a car to a home — even if they were employed and financially qualified.

*snip*

We're still catching up: These days, women are more independent — and therefore have more financial responsibilities — than ever before. Forty percent of American households with children under the age of 18 included mothers who were either the sole or primary source of income in a 2013 Pew Research Center analysis.

But the historical shutting-out of women from careers, fiscal decisions and financial independence has had long-term effects. Financial education firm co-founder Eleanor Blayney told USA Today the financial industry "misses some fundamental truths about women and the way they think and make decisions." In fact, a 2015 study found that 4 in 5 women surveyed felt uncomfortable talking about finances with someone they're close to, according to U.S. News & World Report. Of the respondents, 63% were not confident about handling retirement planning on their own, and only 28% felt confident picking investments without help.

Despite these figures, independence is important to young women: A 2010 study found that millennial women value "independence and self-direction" above all else, the Christian Science Monitor reported. And a 2011 Pew Research Center study revealed that 66% of women aged 18 to 34 highly prioritize their careers, beating out the 59% of men who said the same thing.

*snip*

http://mic.com/articles/118630/here-s-why-bernie-sanders-college-for-all-act-is-a-feminist-victory

[seabeyond]

1. Study has more disturbing findings about campus rape of freshmen women

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/20/living/feat-rape-freshmen-women-new-study/

while making college affordable for all, lets address the rapes of our girls, we send to get that education, or hire for the military.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Game changer for women and minorities. It cannot be overstated.

Women, minorities, and young people among the working poor who cannot afford to leave their families without a wage-earner in the household, much less pay for college.

This is like an atom bomb to be used in the class war we're living in.

K/R

[seabeyond]

3. the working poor have more advantages on scholarships and less $ for college. it is those making

too much, you know, over like 70k that are being socked with the full bill.

this will help all for sure. but mostly, people like me that are trying for retirement, but paying two boys full cost at university, or get a high interest loan.

since i am sitting in this now, i am just correcting you a tad.

i am all for the ways for our less advantage to be able to go to college.

but, the ones really being hit are not the poor, but middle and upper middle, with college costs.

i believe...

i may be wrong.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Only from the POV of grants and scholarships, maybe.

but if you look at the whole picture, poor housing and nutrition and often the need to stay home to care for family members (I see that a lot), those advantages are offset considerably.

I do get your point, middle income families make too much to benefit and too little to pay outright or even borrow.

This Sanders program will just level it all out, no means testing AFAIK, just one size fits all.

It still leaves private institutions there for the rich who may not want to have to associate with us riff-raff, but that's ok with me!

I don't care to associate with them, either!

[seabeyond]

6. i am glad you took my post in the spirit it was meant. i have an almost senior and one in 3rd yr of

university and look at three yrs further education. it is damn overwhelming.

[NYC_SKP]

8. It's got to be near impossible.

It all costs more than running the house, mortgage and all.

[one_voice]

12. I was in this position...

both my kids went to college. My son graduates on the 29th with his Masters. I got no help for either of them, except a little--very little--in the way of a pell grant one year when my husband was laid off for a short bit. Outside that, nothing. During that time many of those years we didn't come close to 70k.



Both kids, were honor roll in high school, both played sports etc. Both have ethnic backgrounds, none helped them with any type of help. My daughter did get a partial sports (Volleyball) scholarship to a small private college up in NY but we couldn't afford what wasn't covered. Tuition went up dramatically between when my daughter graduated & when my son started (5 years between them). Far too expensive. Books one semester for my daughter $900. WTF?!?

They both have masters now.

Bottom line, college is for the rich & those gifted with athletic abilities.

[sabrina 1]

4. His record on women's rights has been exemplary.

Good article. He is making waves, that's for sure.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. Republicans control the house and Senate will not allow a vote on this before the next Congress

So it will not benefit anyone.

But it is a good campaign strategy to put up bills like this, even if it would never pass.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Au Contraire. Their votes will be used to shame them. We build momentum that way.

The benefit might be delayed, but if we don't try these things it will never come.

[hifiguy]

11. You have to raise the issue again and again to build public consciousness.

One failed try and dropping it will accomplish nothing.

You are so right!

[Agnosticsherbet]

14. This will never be voted on because Republicans control the legislative agenda.

And shame them? Republicans would be shamed if they did not vote against it, and probably primaried by someone more pleasing to the right.

They would use their vote against it to raise money. But they won't have to because it will not be put up for a vote.

And if it isn't taken up for a vote by the time the next Congress is sworn in, it is dead and would need to be re initiated.

This is an election year stunt, and not the first for Senator Sanders.

The Republicans do the same thing so they can show their constituents and donors.

I condemn Republicans for these elections year stunts, and I condemn Democrats (and Sanders is running as a Democrat) for the same thing.

[hifiguy]

10. IIRC, more young women than young men are

pursuing higher education, including graduate school, and it has been that way for the last decade or two.

Which would indicate to me that they are much more far-sighted than their male peers and would greatly benefit from Bernie's excellent plan.

[one_voice]

13. I had one of each go to college..

both went to grad school as well.

My opinion any one that wants to go to college should be able to go. If they have the smarts and want to learn, they should be able to. Being poor, male, female, whatever isn't a reason not to be educated.

Other countries educate their kids, why don't we?

[hifiguy]

15. I can't figure it out.

Though one reason is that an educated populace is a lot harder to fool and has a nasty tendency to ask questions. And gullible idiots can be easily propagandized and suckered by the billionaire class and their affiliated "preachers."

Anybody with the brains and drive to go should be able to go as far as those things will let them without indentured servitude being a part of the package.

[malokvale77]

16. The first paragraph in the body of your post...

is dead on. I started talking about this 4 decades ago in Texas.

It started at the local School Board elections. While nobody else seemed to see the dangers in voting for "good Christian leaders", I was alarmed.

Too make a long story short: It got us all the likes of George W. Bush and the current crop of dumber than dumb representation we have now.

Texas was the proving ground for the idiocy going on in this country.