Should Child Support be a Thing of the Past
An Unpopular Opinion
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I never quite understood the point of child support as a rule. Why is one parent always ordered to pay child support even when there is 50/50 custody? I know that this is an unpopular opinion but let me explain my reasoning.
When two parents care for their child, 50 percent of the time, they both have the same expenses. Since in most cases, it is the father ordered to pay child support so let’s use that example. Many fathers have difficulty paying for two households. Furthermore, it is usually the father that has to move out of their home and start over. Moving and home expenses are generally the largest expenses you have in life. They have to furnish their new home, including their child’s room. Just when a father has to do this, he is ordered to pay child support and the expenses of caring for his child fifty percent of the year. How is any of this fair?
Sexist stereotypes hurt both mothers and fathers. The custody and child support system we have today is based on an antiquated 1970s patriarchal society. When it is assumed dad pays child support, and mom cares for the children, it only perpetuates sexist ideas. The idea that women are unable to care for themselves and that fathers are unable to nurture children.
This outdated arrangement holds women, men, families, and the economy back. It is a heck of a lot harder to get ahead professionally and financially if you are the sole — or majority care provider for children.
When parenting time is shared equally, single moms would have so, so much more time to invest in their careers and businesses. When parenting is equal, moms are not the default caregiver when kids barf in the night and need to stay home from school. 50/50 custody means moms would not automatically be the parent that must leave work early for teacher meetings, or systematically forgo career-advancing work travel or evening networking events.
Joint physical custody equalizes parents not only in separated and divorced families, but all families. Equally shared parenting laws change family culture. If equal parenting were the norm, this would create a collective mind shift at home, work and in the bedroom.
