M.I.A.

So when the news broke about the toddlers smoking pot- I, like most, was outraged. I was outraged becuase I immediately see this as abuse but what I don't think most poeple acknowledge are the racial and GENDERED implications that go along with the shock value of this YouTubed crime. Did anyone ask why they don't show the thousands of white kids that have absente parents due to their own addictions? Going one further- why was the last line of the news blurb that I saw state that "the mother was at home sleeping in the back."
Hell yeah she was asleep- that's normal!!!
She- like most marginalized women of color, probably has more than 1 job.
Why was there no mention of where the father was?
Why do we only shame the mother for sleeping?

Moving on- there's a story in the DMN about a fugative mom found for abandoning her twin girls. Now, granted- I believe she left them on the side of the road- that's not ok.
So I'll ask again- why no mention of where the father is?
Why do we feel vindication for arresting a bad mother and yet we know there are thousands of fathers that don't even take financial responsiblity for their children? Why are their pictures not plastered in the paper? THAT'S ABANDONMENT TOO!!!

I refuse to accept that becasue women are birthing babies that it requires we be the sole stop for responsibility.
So- I want to know. Where are the fathers?

This entry was posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 at 9:37 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.